Welcome to the Katalin Kovács National Kayak-Canoe Academy!
Gather ‘round, folks! A brand new beacon for the world of paddle-pushing has just floated into our lives. Yes, it’s the Katalin Kovács National Kayak-Canoe Academy in Sukoro – and it’s got all the bells and whistles that even a fish would envy! Launched on a spectacular Saturday morning, it’s not just a place to learn how to glide gracefully across tranquil waters; it’s a glorious tribute to one of Hungary’s greatest sporting icons!
A Walk Down Memory Lane
Katalin Kovács, the lady whose name is now etched on this academy, reminisced about her glory days – as she should! Retired since 2016 and now basking in the warmth of her memories and children, she recalls a career that would make even the Olympians raise an eyebrow. “Do what you believe in and believe in what you do,” she says – words we all need to live by, especially when trying to convince ourselves that post-work snacks are part of a balanced diet.
The Academy: A Home for All
“Our undisclosed goal is for the facility to be the stronghold of Hungarian kayak-canoeing…”
Talk about ambitious! But why stop there? Katalin aims to make this much more than just a breeding ground for kayak champions. With community sports mixed in like a fine cocktail, they’re hoping everyone from elementary school kids to seasoned athletes can swim, paddle, or simply frolic in the joy of sports. And can we please take a moment to appreciate Katalin’s ambition? This isn’t just sport; it’s an *experience* – akin to a theme park but significantly sweatier!
Prime Ministers and Privileged Paddlers
And let’s not gloss over the star-studded opening ceremony, shall we? Prime Minister Viktor Orbán made an appearance – I mean, if you need an official blessing for a lavish sports facility, why not call in the big guns? Alongside him were sports dignitaries that would make for a rather impressive dinner party. The government’s undying love for sports is evident, with a hefty investment of HUF 45.9 billion. That’s a lot of dough! One wonders if they’d ever consider a funding spree for an academy focused on couch sports. At least training for napping would be a walk in the park!
A Unique Sports Facility
What sets this academy apart? Well, to start with, its illustrious features. Picture this: 20,000 square meters of sporty goodness, complete with a counter-current swimming pool that can give even the swiftest fish a run for their money! And let’s not forget the high-altitude section – perfect for those wishing to simulate the experience of exhausting oxygen levels while sitting comfortably on a couch at home. Heaven! The architectural design, by none other than Turi Attila, is enough to make even an art critic tear up.
Training the Next Generation
The academy isn’t just a pretty face; it’s getting down to business too! With over 200 young talents expected to be shaping up, it’s already ideal for nurturing future champions. Supported by a diverse team of coaches, physiotherapists, fitness trainers, and, of course, the legendary champions themselves, they’re ready to launch a kayak revolution!
Conclusion: Paddle Your Way to Greatness
So there you have it! The Katalin Kovács National Kayak-Canoe Academy isn’t just the latest addition to Hungary’s sporting landscape; it’s a full-blown aquatic arena ready to reshape the nation’s canoeing culture. For anyone looking to dive into sports or simply relive their P.E. days, this might just be the place to start! Katalin’s vision promises an influx of talent, joy, and a sprinkle of competitive spirit – all wrapped up in a lovely package of paddles and good intentions.
(Cover photo: The Katalin Kovács National Kayak-Canoe Academy in Sukoro on its grand opening day, October 12, 2024. Photo: Szilárd Koszticsák / MTI)
So, who’s ready to get their paddles wet?
The Katalin Kovács National Kayak-Canoe Academy in Sukoro was handed over on Saturday morning. At the presentation, Katalin Kovács recalled the most important moments of her career, the golden era, then the path leading to the end, the birth of her children and her retirement in 2016.
“Do what you believe in and believe in what you do. This thought accompanied my career and the creation of the academy. It’s still an incredible feeling that this dream came true and that I was given the opportunity to give something back to the sport to which I owe so much,” said 48-year-old Katalin Kovács.
He said that he felt that his career was well-rounded, the main characteristic of which was that he wanted to perform at the highest possible level, to be the best among the best. He then thanked his family, coaches, fellow sportsmen and opponents. He revealed that after putting down the shovel, he was looking for new motivation, and that’s when the idea of creating the academy was formulated.
According to Katalin Kovács, their goals are multifaceted. They want to help elite sports, primarily kayaking, but they also strive to cooperate with high schools and universities, and they also constantly promote the sport, and kayaking classes have already started in several elementary schools.
Our undisclosed goal is for the facility to be the stronghold of Hungarian kayak-canoeing and Hungarian sports, and we also want to be the home of community sports in the region and the entire country. Our goal here at Sukoro will be that as many people as possible can experience the miracle of sport. I am officially opening the gates of the academy today
he announced.
According to the MTI report, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán took part in the event and gave a speech, and Ádám Schmidt, the State Secretary responsible for sports, Pál Schmitt, the former president of the Republic, Zsolt Gyulay, the Hungarian Olympic Committee and László Szabó, the president of the Hungarian Paralympic Committee, were also present. Viktor Orbán also revealed why the government invests so much money in sports. We wrote more about the prime minister’s speech here.
A unique sports facility
The government decision on the implementation of the KKNKKA in Sukoro was made in the second half of 2020, the investment was built with central budget support, the National Sports Infrastructure Agency became the maintainer of the state-owned facility. The Hungarian-owned WEST HUNGÁRIA BAU Kft. was able to start construction in the fall of 2021 based on the plans of Turi Attila Kossuth and Ybl award-winning architect and Planbau Kft. in the area of the kayak-canoe and rowing track in Sukoro – formerly VVSI.
The mfor.hu according to the total cost of the investment was HUF 45.9 billion.
The sports complex has an area of more than 20,000 square meters with the academic main building, the boathouse building that functions as the kayak-canoe center, the counter-current swimming pool, which is also considered a curiosity in the world, and the renewed goal tower.
Imre Makovecz and the academic main building, which evokes the stylistic features of the organic architecture he created, are multi-sport facilities in terms of functionality. Building parts with different purposes can be accessed separately from the lobby: the 50-meter, ten-lane, FINA-standard sports swimming pool, which is also suitable for holding swimming competitions and water polo tournaments; the multifunctional gymnasium with a special roof structure, in which basketball, handball and volleyball, futsal and, thanks to the 30-meter-wide boulder walls, also find a home, even on a split court, for climbing. The building complex has three conditioning rooms, a modern sports diagnostic department, a restaurant for 240 people, a conference room for 240 people, and dormitories and training camp rooms as well as apartments in three building wings.
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Gallery: The academy was inaugurated in Sukoro, which is unique in the world Photo: Szilárd Koszticsák / MTI
Hungary’s first high-altitude section is located here, in which, using the systems of the Finnish Hypoxico Group, it is possible to simulate high-altitude conditions for all athletes.
Surrounded by the outdoor sports courts – basketball, tennis, beach volleyball and artificial grass soccer fields, street workout fields – the kayak-canoe center of the academy is located, which includes the boat storage building that also includes the training pools and fitness room, as well as the facility for motion analysis and diagnostic measurements unique counter current pool. A rowing house and boat storage were also built in the area, thus ensuring all the former functions of the area.
“The Katalin Kovács National Kayak-Canoe Academy in Sukoro is the first sports facility in the world where the high-altitude section and the counter-current pool can be found in the same area,” said the hosts.
Parallel to the investment, the Katalin Kovács National Kayak-Canoe Academy also started operating in 2021. The sports organization already provides sports for more than 200 children from the preparatory age group to the U23 age group. At the academy, 16 sports coaches, two fitness trainers, two physiotherapists and prevention coaches, as well as four sports science staff at the Kayak-Canoe Methodology Center help prepare the competitors. The academy is strengthened by Emese Kőhalmi, the seven-time adult world champion, the reigning champion of the Hungarian kayak-canoe sport, and Sára Fojt, the two-time bronze medalist of the Paris Olympics.
(Cover photo: The Katalin Kovács National Kayak-Canoe Academy in Sukoro on its opening day, October 12, 2024. Photo: Szilárd Koszticsák / MTI)
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