As it’s become a tradition at the FINA Marathon Swim World Series legs, a mass swim event was also staged for swimming-loving people. And this time it was another great hit in Balatonfured, held on the same course (though on 1km) where the greats competed in the morning.

Hungary’s next generation opened the swim, members of the federation’s Future Champion programme invaded the starting pontoon, led by the country’s new hero, Kristof Milak, World Championships silver-medallist last July (as a 17 year-old) and four-time junior world champion in Indianapolis. The starting sign with a pistol was given by 2000 Olympic champion Agnes Kovacs, and after the kids, hundreds of enthusiasts dived to the lake to celebrate sport and the Hungarian Swimming’s Day at lake Balaton.

 

In fact, thousands did the same all over the country as beaches and swimming pools offered free admission this day in 42 cities around Hungary.