The 44th Lidl Lake Balaton Cross Swim took place on Saturday, 1 August, after being postponed twice due to poor weather conditions. Nearly 11,000 participants had registered in advance for Hungary’s largest open-water swimming event, the Hungarian news site 24.hu reports.
A man named Nándor Nagy claimed victory in the traditional 5.2-kilometre (3.2-mile) race between Révfülöp and Balatonboglár, Hungary, crossing the finish line in 59 minutes and 20 seconds.
Competitors were welcomed by calm conditions, with only light waves on the lake. Temperatures reached 26°C (79°F) in the morning before climbing to around 36°C (97°F) during the afternoon, while the water temperature measured approximately 25°C (77°F).
In addition to the flagship 5.2-kilometre crossing, participants could also enter the 2.6-kilometre (1.6-mile) half-distance swim or the Yettel Balaton SUP Cross race for stand-up paddleboarders.
The event attracted swimmers from 1,190 towns and villages across Hungary, as well as competitors from 60 countries. The oldest participant was 90 years old. Men accounted for 57 per cent of entrants overall, although women made up the majority in both the half-distance swim and the SUP event.
Safety remained a key focus throughout the race.
Around 150 sailboats were positioned along the course to provide assistance, while hospital ships, water police, lifeboat crews, kayakers, SUP paddlers, and more than 1,000 organizers supported participants throughout the crossing.
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