Short Trackers Deliver a “Ten out of Ten” Performance at the European Championships

The Hungarians continued their medal-winning streak started in 2006 at the continental short track speed skating championships with two bronze medals: both the women’s and mixed relays finished third. With the bronze medals, the Hungarian team finished fifth in the medal table at the European Championships in Tilburg.

Ákos Bánhidi, speed skating branch director, was extremely satisfied with the Hungarian team’s two medals. The Hungarian mixed relay team consisting of Diána Laura Végi, Maja Somodi, Wonjun Moon, and Bence Nógrádi, followed by the women’s relay team (Diána Laura Végi, Maja Somodi, Sára Luca Bácskai, Rebeka Sziliczei-Német) won bronze medals on the final day of competition on Sunday.

Rebeka Sziliczei-Német (L) and Diána Laura Végi in the women’s 3000-meter relay final. Photo: MTI/Illyés Tibor

After the women’s relay final, Bácskai said that it was somewhat satisfying to win the bronze medal ahead of the French team, that secured the last Olympic quota.

It is definitely satisfying for us to end the season with a relay like this. We did not want the medal this way, but our only goal was to beat the French and prove that we deserve to be at the Olympics, not them,”

Bácskai told MTI. “We were stronger even then when we caught up with them after the first fall. I felt that they were tired, that is why I did not want to go right away. I thought, ‘let them go, let them get tired, and we will go at the last exchanges.” Then came our second fall.”

Rebeka Sziliczei-Német in the women’s 3000-meter relay final. Photo: MTI/Illyés Tibor

Speed skating branch director Ákos Bánhidi said after the two bronze medals: “Those who do everything they can to bring results to our country deserve a ten out of ten, even if they get two rounds. Everyone here did everything they could. Hence, since we still managed to achieve results, I give us a ten out of ten in our current situation. I am very satisfied with this team.”

“Considering the handicap caused by the absence of the Jászapáti siblings due to injury, and seeing that everyone was here except for the two world-class Belgian competitors, I am especially proud of the members of the national team,” he added.

The second semifinal of the men’s 5000-meter relay. The Hungarian men’s relay team ultimately finished in fourth place at the continental tournament. Photo: MTI/Illyés Tibor

The expert, who was previously voted coach of the year, believes that what

they can be really proud of is the mixed relay team, which also finished third, just one second behind the national record set by Olympic champions Liu brothers and European champion Petra Jászapáti.

“We have something to strive for, because we finished almost neck and neck with the Dutch and Italian teams, that could easily win the Olympics. It was a terribly strong race with fantastic times. Of course, the Italians fell at the end, and we are happy to have won the bronze medal, but the performance was there too.”

The next competition will be the Winter Olympics in Milan, starting on February 6.

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