Benca Halász on 20 August Men's hammer throw final
The superheroes of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 dazzled us right from the opening weekend. The Hungarian fans were fantastic: Bence Halász secured a bronze medal in the hammer throw, while Xénia Krizsán and Rita Nemes showcased their prowess as they ranked among the world's top 10 heptathletes. Additionally, two of our 21-year-old youngsters, Boglárka Takács and Attila Molnár, also mesmerized the enthusiastic crowd at the National Athletics Centre.
The National Athletics Centre was packed to full capacity, and the spectators were in a state of ecstasy. A magnificent Hungarian podium finish and jubilant crowds at the Medal Plaza marked a historic moment in Hungary's sporting history on 20 August. A staggering 60,000 spectators turned up on Sunday alone at the National Athletics Centre, and judging by their reactions, they were far from disappointed with the first two days of the World Championships. The event was brimming with unforgettable stories.
On Saturday, more than a dozen Hungarian athletes passionately represented their home nations. Our mixed relay team started with a national record, and our quartet featuring Attila Molnár, Bianka Kéri, Zoltán Wahl, and Janka Molnár came extremely close to the final, missing it by just 18 hundredths of a second. Meanwhile, the USA mixed relay team set the first world record in Budapest, adding to the excitement of the event.
The opening moments of the World Championships were marred by significant dramas, which proved unfortunate for the Dutch contingent. First, in the women's 10,000m, Sifan Hassan and then Femke Bol in the women's mixed relay tumbled in the final meters. In a thrilling turn of events, Ryan Crouser came astonishingly close to breaking the world record in the men's shot put final, missing it by only five centimeters, but still managing to set a new championship record with a throw of 23.51 meters.
Day 2 of the competition coincided with the celebration of Hungary's founding on 20 August. This schedule resulted in outstanding performances from the Hungarian athletes throughout the day. Bence Halász, in particular, claimed the bronze medal in the hammer throw, captivating the fans with his best performance of the year, covering a remarkable distance of 80.82 meters in a highly competitive and suspenseful final. Notably, four of his competitors also surpassed the magical 80-meter mark, with one athlete managing to outshine the five-time world champion, Pawel Fajdek.
After two days of extraordinary efforts, Xénia Krizsán secured the fourth position, while Rita Nemes secured the tenth place in the heptathlon. Interestingly, victory did not go to the silver medalist, Anna Hall, but rather to the 2019 world champion, Katarina Johnson-Thompson.
The title of the fastest man in the world in 2023 was claimed by Noah Lyles, who sprinted his way to victory in the 100m final. The American superstar's remarkable speed at the end of his run hinted that he might even have a shot at challenging Usain Bolt's iconic world record of 19.19 seconds in the 200m, set for Friday, 25 August!
"We had an absolutely incredible day. It marked the first Hungarian medal, and an unprecedented crowd of over sixty thousand spectators gathered to witness the extraordinary competition of these athletic superheroes at the National Athletics Centre. We extended a warm welcome to fans from 106 different countries, esteemed state leaders, distinguished protocol guests, and notable celebrities. The atmosphere at the World Championships this morning and afternoon was truly electric. I am very proud of the exceptional efforts of our organising team, as we effectively navigated the challenges of this extraordinary day," stated Balázs Németh, CEO of Budapest 2023 Nzrt.
Two of our immensely talented 21-year-olds, Boglárka Takács and Attila Molnár, also showcased why we consider them the future European stars to watch in the upcoming years. The fastest Hungarian female athlete secured her spot in Monday evening's semi-final with an impressive time of 11.18 seconds, while our young 400m sprinter shattered her own Hungarian record, clocking a remarkable 44.84 seconds. You can catch him in action again during Tuesday evening's program.
The fever for the World Championships has taken hold of Budapest and Hungary, only a few tickets are available for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday's events. If you haven't secured your tickets yet, visit https://tickets.wabudapest23.com/ as soon as possible to buy them before they run out!
Monday night promises double excitement with the fastest female sprinters and, if all goes well, a thrilling performance from Grant Holloway in the Men's 110m hurdles. Tuesday evening's programme features Attila Molnár in the semi-finals, along with three of our exceptional hurdling talents—Luca Kozák, Anna Tóth, and Greta Kerekes—as well as two formidable 800m runners, Daniel Huller and Balázs Vindics. Finally, on Wednesday, brace yourselves for the crowd-favorite Jakob Ingebrigtsen as he competes in the highly anticipated Men's 1500m final.
