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Hungary’s men’s relay team is on the cusp of qualifying for the Milan Winter Olympics, a remarkable turnaround for a squad once considered a long shot. All they need to avoid yellow card penalties in Sunday’s A Final to secure their spot in February’s competition.
Few gave the Hungarian team a chance heading into the fourth stop of the World Tour series in Dordrecht, Netherlands, after failing to reach the semi-finals in the first three events. But on Friday, they defied expectations, winning their quarterfinal heat. That victory set up a crucial Saturday semi-final, where Hungary’s fate was in their own hands following Germany’s failure to qualify for the A Final. A place in the top four would guarantee Olympic qualification, while a spot in the B Final still offered a path to Milan via a fifth or sixth-place finish.
The Hungarian team, comprised of Péter Jászapáti, Dániel Tiborcz, Bence Nógrádi, and Moon Wonjun, delivered on Saturday, navigating a chaotic semi-final to secure a place in the A Final. They stayed out of trouble while watching Japan and Canada collide, allowing them to finish second in their heat and advance.
The team’s performance was a visible boost, with smiles all around from the skaters and head coach Nicky Gooch.
This bit of good fortune comes at a welcome time for the Hungarian short track program, which has endured a string of misfortune in recent months. The challenges began with Petra Jászapáti’s season-ending knee injury and continued with difficulties for the women’s relay team, illnesses, and other setbacks.
The women’s team also faced a challenging road to qualification.
Three steps stood between the women’s relay team and a spot in Milan. The first, reaching the semi-finals, was accomplished on Thursday. The Hungarian team of Sára Luca Bácskai, Rebeka Sziliczei-Német, Diána Laura Végi, and Maja Somodi consistently competed in that lineup throughout the Dordrecht event.
Saturday’s semi-final required a finish in the B Final, as five teams competed for a limited number of qualifying spots. Hungary finished third, but a disqualification of the fourth-place Chinese team allowed Poland to also advance to the B Final.
The stakes were high, as Hungary, Poland, and France were all vying for the eighth and final Olympic qualifying spot in the women’s relay.
France also qualified for the B Final, setting up a final showdown: Hungary needed to finish ahead of both Poland and France, and by at least two positions.
Unfortunately, their Olympic hopes were dashed when Poland made contact with the Hungarian team during a changeover. While both teams crashed, the disqualification of Poland didn’t matter. France secured a comfortable second-place finish in the B Final, sealing their Olympic berth and ending Hungary’s chances.
Bácskai and her teammates were understandably heartbroken.
In individual events, Moon Wonjun advanced directly to the semi-finals in the men’s 1500m, finishing sixth in his heat and 16th overall. No Hungarian skaters reached the finals in the men’s 500m or women’s 1000m, with Moon Wonjun, Rebeka Sziliczei-Német, and Maja Somodi unable to advance from the preliminary heats.
While official confirmation is pending, Hungary has secured enough qualifying spots to send athletes to Milan in the men’s 500m and 1500m, and the women’s 1000m. This also guarantees Hungary’s participation in the mixed relay event at the Winter Olympics.
WORLD TOUR-SERIES, 4TH STOP, DORDRECHT
Men.
500 m: 1. Andrew Heo (USA) 42.012, 2. Dandjinou (CAN) 42.136, 3. Pigeon (POL) 42.218, …32. Moon Wonjun, …49. Tiborcz Dániel, …75. Jászapáti Péter.
1500 m: 1. William Dandjinou 2:16.600, 2. Roussel (CAN) 2:16.670, 3. Szun Long (CHN) 2:16.772, …16. Moon Wonjun, …33. Jászapáti Péter, …37. Nógrádi Bence.
Women.
1000 m: 1. Courtney Sarault (CAN) 1:27.701, 2. Stoddard (USA) 1:27.752, 3. H. Desmet (BEL) 1:27.897, …23. Somodi Maja, …27. Sziliczei-Német Rebeka, …57. Bácskai Sára Luca.
Relay (3000 m): 1. Netherlands 4:07.916, 2. Italy 4:08.127, 3. United States 4:08.154, …7. Hungary (Bácskai Sára Luca, Somodi Maja, Sziliczei-Német Rebeka, Végi Diána Laura)
