Treble-winner Kapas helps Hungary finish in style

AFP, LONDON: Boglarka Kapas became the first woman to win the distance freestyle treble as the European Championships came to a close with Hungary on top of the standings with 10 golds among a haul of 19 medals.
Hosts Great Britain were second with a total of 22 medals including seven golds, after they won both the men’s and women’s medley relays in the final two events of the evening at a raucous Aquatics Centre.
Kapas held off the fast-finishing defending champion Jazmin Carlin to add the 400m freestyle to the 800m and 1500m titles, making history in the process.
Her achievements had echoes of Katie Ledecky, the American who won all the freestyle titles from 200m upwards at last year’s world championships and who has taken the sport into uncharted territory.
Kapas was stunned to have made history, telling AFP: “Oh my goodness! I didn’t know that, that’s amazing. I am just so happy with today.”
It saw the 23-year-old leave with four golds from four events, having also been part of the victorious Hungarian 4x200m freestyle relay as she commanded some of the spotlight reserved for team-mate Katinka Hosszu, winner of four golds and a silver.
David Verraszto successfully defended his 400m individual medley title while Laszlo Cseh finished with four medals, including the 100m and 200m butterfly double, as Hungary continued their fine tradition in the pool.
Kapas led from the 100m mark to set a personal best of 4mins 3.47secs despite Carlin making inroads on the last length, with Mireia Belmonte in third.
She will contest the 400m and 800m in Rio, where Ledecky awaits as the hottest of favourites, but Kapas has clear goals for her second Games.
“She (Ledecky) is much better than anyone in the world now. But I hope I can win a medal in the 800 and make the final for the 400.”
Based in Budapest, she puts the Hungarians’ success down to “our famous training - we train so hard - and we have great coaches. That is the secret.”
Verraszto moved ahead of the field on the backstroke leg as he defended his 400m individual medley title in 4:13.15 ahead of Slovakia’s Richard Nagy and Federico Turrini of Italy.
He was not wholly impressed though: “With the early start for the afternoon sessions we didn’t have enough time for recovery which is important in the 400 IM.
“Add that I fractured my ribs in April so I have to be satisfied with this time. I retained my title, so the job is done and I’ll take care of myself until Rio.”
Florent Manaudou won the 50m freestyle in 21.73secs meaning he will go into Rio as the reigning Olympic, world and European champion.
Ranomi Kromowidjojo has Olympic and world titles but until today she had no individual European golds in her collection.
The Dutchwoman rectified that with victory in the 50m freestyle in a championship record of 24.07secs.
Franziska Hentke came from third at the final turn to thunder down the last length and win the 200m butterfly by 0.01secs from Hungary’s Liliana Szilagyi in 2:07.23.
Great Britain won both the men’s and women’s 4x100m medley relays, meaning Adam Peaty has now won eight golds in eight events across two European Championships.
World champion Jennie Johannson upgraded her 2014 silver to gold in the 50m breaststroke in 30.81.

Treble-winner Kapas helps Hungary finish in style

AFP, LONDON: Boglarka Kapas became the first woman to win the distance freestyle treble as the European Championships came to a close with Hungary on top of the standings with 10 golds among a haul of 19 medals. Hosts Great Britain were second with a total of 22 medals including seven golds, after they won both the mens and womens medley relays in the final two events of the evening at a raucous Aquatics Centre. Kapas held off the fast-finishing defending champion Jazmin Carlin to add the 400m freestyle to the 800m and 1500m titles, making history in the process. Her achievements had echoes of Katie Ledecky, the American who won all the freestyle titles from 200m upwards at last years world championships and who has taken the sport into uncharted territory. Kapas was stunned to have made history, telling AFP: Oh my goodness! I didnt know that, thats amazing. I am just so happy with today. It saw the 23-year-old leave with four golds from four events, having also been part of the victorious Hungarian 4x200m freestyle relay as she commanded some of the spotlight reserved for team-mate Katinka Hosszu, winner of four golds and a silver. David Verraszto successfully defended his 400m individual medley title while Laszlo Cseh finished with four medals, including the 100m and 200m butterfly double, as Hungary continued their fine tradition in the pool. Kapas led from the 100m mark to set a personal best of 4mins 3.47secs despite Carlin making inroads on the last length, with Mireia Belmonte in third. She will contest the 400m and 800m in Rio, where Ledecky awaits as the hottest of favourites, but Kapas has clear goals for her second Games. She (Ledecky) is much better than anyone in the world now. But I hope I can win a medal in the 800 and make the final for the 400. Based in Budapest, she puts the Hungarians success down to our famous training - we train so hard - and we have great coaches. That is the secret. Verraszto moved ahead of the field on the backstroke leg as he defended his 400m individual medley title in 4:13.15 ahead of Slovakias Richard Nagy and Federico Turrini of Italy. He was not wholly impressed though: With the early start for the afternoon sessions we didnt have enough time for recovery which is important in the 400 IM. Add that I fractured my ribs in April so I have to be satisfied with this time. I retained my title, so the job is done and Ill take care of myself until Rio. Florent Manaudou won the 50m freestyle in 21.73secs meaning he will go into Rio as the reigning Olympic, world and European champion. Ranomi Kromowidjojo has Olympic and world titles but until today she had no individual European golds in her collection. The Dutchwoman rectified that with victory in the 50m freestyle in a championship record of 24.07secs. Franziska Hentke came from third at the final turn to thunder down the last length and win the 200m butterfly by 0.01secs from Hungarys Liliana Szilagyi in 2:07.23. Great Britain won both the mens and womens 4x100m medley relays, meaning Adam Peaty has now won eight golds in eight events across two European Championships. World champion Jennie Johannson upgraded her 2014 silver to gold in the 50m breaststroke in 30.81.