After an amazing performance in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Hungary’s star swimmer Katinka Hosszu did not stop to catch her breath – heading straight into the FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup series – eager to keep her momentum from Rio. Next up for Hosszu is the Doha leg of the FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup which will be held in the Hamad Aquatic Centre from 8-9 October.
The Iron Lady picked up her nickname after she won five medals in a 2012 meet in Beijing in just two days, which prompted the stunned Chinese media to ask her if she was made of iron – a question that is as relevant as ever.
Despite the humble start of her career – her first participation came in the 2004 European short course swimming championships in which she managed a single bronze medal in the 400m medley – Hosszu has been steadily developing as an athlete and snagging many medals along the way. In 2013 she took two gold medals and one bronze medal in the World Championships, and an astounding 24 gold medals and 6 new world records during the FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup series.
The following year proved equally successful for Katinka as she went on to break the short course world records in the 100m and 200m individual backstroke events and in the 100m, 200m and 400m individual medleys in Doha.
The unstoppable Hosszu, who recently opened her own swimming school in her native Hungary named “Iron Aquatics Swimming School”, used her incredible momentum in the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia to win gold in the 200m individual medal and set a lightning fast new world record of 2:06.12, as well as another gold medal in the 400m individual medley and a bronze in the 200m backstroke event.
In the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, which marked her fourth Olympic appearance, the 27-year-old swimmer won the gold medal and absolutely demolished the world record in the 400m individual medley by almost 2 seconds. China’s Ye Shiwen set the world record at the 2012 London Games, with 4:28.43, Hosszu was under that pace after 50 meters, 100 metres, 150 metres — after every length of the pool and secured a remarkable final time of 4:26.36.
Hosszu won another gold medal and set a new Olympic record in the 200m individual medley, and won her third gold medal in the 100m backstroke as well as snagging silver in the 200m backstroke. With a total Olympic medal haul of three gold and one silver medal, Hosszu won more medals in individual events than any other swimmer in Rio 2016.
After an amazing display of swimming supremacy in Rio, it is hard to imagine that the Iron Lady almost quit swimming after a disappointing performance in the London 2012 Olympics, where she placed 4th in the 400m individual medley.
“I am very happy with my performance in the Rio 2016 Olympics. I worked very hard since London 2012 to be in a good place for the next Games and I think we achieved that,” she said, adding “I’m very excited to get right back to competing, especially in Doha, where it always feels like home.”
Not knowing the meaning of fatigue, Hosszu jumped right back into the FINA airweave Swimming World Cup series as soon as the Rio 2016 Olympics concluded. In the French leg of the World Cup she took home seven medals including five gold and two silver medals. The swimming juggernaut continued her domination in the following Berlin edition where she snagged a jaw-dropping 11 medals. Hosszu then headed to Moscow where she took home 6 medals in total.
The Hungarian swimmer, who is coached by her animated husband Shane Tusup, will head to Doha from tomorrow to 9 October at the Hamad Aquatic Centre. After an incredible year, Hosszu surely hopes to continue her massive success in Doha.
Don’t miss out on witnessing this incredible athlete in action live in Doha’s state-of-the-art Hamad Aquatic Centre and get your tickets online via www.qtickets.com Ticket prices are set at QR20 per person per session. Given this year’s stellar line up of athletes, be sure to book your ticket well ahead of time.
Hosszu will be joined by many other Olympians and World Champions, with the full line-up for the upcoming FINA airweave Swimming World Cup – Doha to be revealed soon. Find out more at www.qatarswimming.com, follow us @SWC_Doha on Twitter, and search for FINA airweave Swimming World Cup Doha on Facebook.
Katinka Hosszu
