Four Hungarian pentathlon women made it to the 18th final of the European Championships in Székesfehérvár: the individual silver medal at the World Championships Michelle Gulyás, Simon Sarolta, Luca Barta and Blanka Guzi. Gulyás, the brilliant UTE pentathlete, did not fight exceptionally this time, he also made two mistakes in driving, but he swam well and finished in seventh place before the decisive combination, the laser race. At that time, Simon also overtook Gulyás, he was in fifth place, the gold medal could easily be awarded to British leader Charlie Follett, he drove with such an advantage.
The swirling wind put the pentathletes to the test in the 3,000-meter run, punctuated by five series of laser shots. The menu was as follows: start, then run 600 meters, then hit five targets with the laser pistol and repeat the operation four more times.
Follett, if possible, further increased her lead and reached the finish line with a sensational advantage, becoming the European champion, followed by compatriot Joanna Muir, who also won the silver medal with confidence. Gulyás stepped forward after each shot and eventually finished third amidst a storm of applause. Simon finished sixth, the other two Hungarians, Guzi and Barta, killed each other at the finish, and eventually Guzi passed in front of Barta and even pushed him, but crashed heavily as he crossed the finish line. In the end Barta took 10th place, 11th for Guzi, but above all, of the two, Barta managed to get on the second step of the podium in the team competition alongside Gulyás and Simon. It is characteristic of the quality of the pitch that the Lithuanians managed to qualify only two competitors for the final of 18, so they came third in the team competition, in addition to the English and Hungarians, none managed to get at least three pentathletes in in the final.
The final female individual result:
1. Charlie Follett (British) 1422 points, 2. Joanna Muir 1393, 3. Gulyás Michelle 1383, … 6. Simone Sarolta 1368, … 10. Luca Barta 1351, 11. Blanka Guzi 1351.
Team competition:
1. Great Britain (Follett, Muir, Kate French) 4185 points, 2. Hungary (Gulyás, Simon, Barta) 4102, 3. Lithuania 2426.
The value of Michelle Gulyás’ success is enhanced by the fact that she has practically carried out her “private” enterprise, since – as is well known – the relationship between her club and Ákos Kállai, captain of the national women’s national team, is not good or even non-existent.
We are not even in contact with Kállai, Péter Tibolya, director of the UTE department and coach of Gulyás, told Index. “I will always chase the lazy person and the parasite.” It doesn’t matter what his name is or who he is. I’m the type of driver who will do anything for his driver. I have only one request to the association, so that they do not hinder me in my work.
Michelle Gulyás happily declared after reaching the finish line:
Obviously I am satisfied with third place. After the ring I felt like the end of the world has come, I have felt until now that my fencing is something I can always rely on. But now it has turned out that I can perform well without it. I’ve never been so nervous before the combined, I’m very happy to be able to get on the podium from seventh place. I don’t even remember such a great career comeback, at least in such an important competition. The wind didn’t bother me, I always shoot in these conditions during training, Kari, my shooting coach sniffs my gun. (Laughs) The encouragement of the audience helped me a lot, I really like competing in front of the national audience. This gives me a big boost, abroad we tend to support each other. This is my first medal at the adult European championships, despite this I close a good year after the silver world championship. I missed the European Championships last year because I was preparing for the Olympics.
However, the total British success also had to do with Hungarian specialist “Deutsch”, aka István Németh, the coach who spent decades on the island, who returned home to Gyenesdias a few years ago. “Deutsch” was the discoverer of the current European champion Charlie Follett six years ago!
(Cover photo: Michelle Gulyás, who won third individual place in the equestrian event of the women’s final of the European pentathlon in Székesfehérvár at the Bregyó Regional Athletic Center on 18 September 2022. Photo: Bodnár Boglárka / MTI)
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