Blanka Guzi (right) and Ilke Ozyuksel of Türkiye at the International Indoor Open Championships in Budapest on March 14, 2026
Hungary enjoyed a strong start to the modern pentathlon World Cup season in Cairo, as Blanka Guzi claimed the women’s gold medal, while Mihály Koleszár secured bronze in the men’s competition. Two other Hungarian athletes also finished inside the top 10 in the women’s final.
In the women’s final, Michelle Gulyás placed fifth and Rita Erdős came in seventh, underlining a strong overall team performance. In the men’s field, Balázs Szép finished 17th, while Zsombor Tárkányi placed 18th.
Blanka Guzi said after the competition that she did not expect victory, noting she had not won an international event since 2024.
Based on my training, I knew I could expect to do well in the swimming and running events,”
she said. The Hungarian athlete noted that swimming had recently become her favorite event, and that she was confident going into the combined event and was able to prove just how strong she is in it.
On the final day, Guzi began the fencing round outside the top positions, failing to advance from the round of 16 and finishing 13th in that segment. She improved significantly in the obstacle discipline, recording 34.61 seconds for sixth place, which moved her up to ninth overall.
In the 100m swim (reduced from 200m this season), she produced the second-fastest time in 1:02.13, climbing to fifth place overall—15 seconds off the podium and 27 seconds behind the leader.
In the decisive laser-run (3000m run with five shooting series), she steadily closed the gap.
After a modest first shooting series, she became increasingly efficient at the range and maintained a strong running pace on the sandy course. She delivered the fastest combined performance of the day (10:54.93) to secure a confident overall victory.
In the men’s final, Mihály Koleszár emerged as the top Hungarian performer in fencing, finishing sixth in that discipline after reaching the quarterfinal stage. He then delivered one of the fastest obstacle course times (24.79 seconds), also placing sixth in that segment and moving up to third overall.
In the 100m swim, he clocked 57.40 seconds, the fifth-best time of the field, entering the laser-run in fourth place—just two seconds off the podium and 15 seconds behind the leader.
Mihály Koleszár, later placed second, in the laser run event of the men’s final at the International Indoor Open Championships in Budapest on March 14, 2026. Photo: MTI/Vasvári Tamás
Egypt’s Mutaz Mohamed took control early in the final event and maintained his lead throughout. Koleszár battled France’s Mathis Roch for the silver medal position, with the two alternating in second place during the race. Roch’s slightly faster running ultimately proved decisive, as he edged ahead in the final lap.
Koleszár finished the laser-run in 10:22.54, ranking seventh in the discipline but securing a well-earned bronze overall.
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Vasvári Tamás
