Hungarian swimmers Daniel Gyurta and Katinka Hosszu have been named the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year in their native country at an awards ceremony last night.
Gyurta continues his indomitable run in the 200 breaststroke in 2013, taking a World Championship gold in the 200 in long course, a World Championship gold in the 200 in short course at the end of 2012, and European Short Course gold in both the 100 and 200 last week in Denmark.
Hosszu won a pair of World Championship gold medals in Barcelona, taking the 200 and 400 meter IM’s, and adding a bronze in the 200 fly. She also won four medals at the European Short Course Championships last weekend, including golds in the 200 fly and the 200 IM; and had an incredible run at the FINA World Cup series that saw her earn 840 points, where her next closest competitor Alia Atkinson had only 288 points. That World Cup run saw 32 gold medals across 8 meets.
Hosszu’s husband and coach Shane Tusup won the Coach of the Year award as well for guiding Hosszu to an unprecedented level of year-rounds wimming success, a significant honor given that Tusup is an American. Gyurta’s coach Sandor Szeles was second in that voting.
This shows how highly water sports is regarded in Hungary. This is Hosszu’s second time already. Not a first time for Guyrta either, third time for him. A Hungarian swimmer, Krisztina Egerszegi (five-time Olympic gold medalist), has been Sportswoman of the Year seven times.
Of European countries, relatively, water sports is probably the most highly regarded in Hungary.