Multiple world champions in Canoe Sprint and Canoe Marathon. That's the easiest way to describe the Hungarian team in Puerto Princesa.
In the coastal city of Palawan Island, they are on a new adventure, riding the thrill of Dragon Boats. Their target? A spot at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu.
On Thursday, the Central European nation proved why they are a paddling powerhouse, finishing fastest in the mixed 10-seater 2000m, one of the three races at the International Canoe Federation Dragon Boat World Championships that will determine the nine remaining spots for Chengdu 2025.
Off to a flier in a discipline not so familiar, the Hungarian team includes established names in Canoe Marathon and Canoe Sprint such as Marton Kover, David Korisanszky, David Koczkas, Balazs Adolf, Adam Fekete, Adam Slihoczki, Zsofia Csorba, Dora Horanyi, Giada Bragato, Giada Bragato, Reka Opavszky, drummer Gitta Remenyi, steerer Peter Remenyi and reserve Lilla Suveges.
With different techniques and training routines, it has been a learning experience for the Hungarians in Puerto Princesa Baywalk.
“The main difference for us is that it's a team sport, contrary to what we are used to in our disciplines, which are mostly individual, and our biggest boat is the C4,” said Adolf, the canoe single gold medallist over the long and short distances at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in 2021.
“To work together as a team, we must have better communication skills and fight our egos. The technique is also very different.”
The Paris 2024 Olympian was very honest when asked about why they wanted to send a team from other disciplines to the Philippines.
It helped that the schedule of the World Championships did not clash with their other disciplines, but there was more to it.
“In Hungary, we don't have many Dragon Boat paddlers, because it's not an Olympic sport. Other disciplines must get into Dragon Boat,” Adolf, who won a C1 long-distance gold medal as recently as the ICF Hangzhou Super Cup earlier this month, said.
“We want to qualify for The World Games.
“The World Games is happening one year after the Olympics so we hope we can give our best.”
Their skills in multiple disciplines are why they click as a team, according to the 25-year-old.
Adolf said that Dragon Boat is an excellent way for team building and hopes to see more support for the discipline in his country.
“The longer distance is harder as some of us are sprint athletes. We didn't know if we could perform as well but marathon paddlers are used to it. That makes a huge difference,” he said.
For all the results from today, click here.
Full coverage of this week's event can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
Join Planet Canoe's YouTube channel for €9.99 per month to unlock members-only content and features
