Tokyo 2020: Hungarian swimming nice Laszlo Cseh closes Olympic profession with out gold

Swimming nice Laszlo Cseh outlasted longtime rivals Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte and now the six-time Olympic medallist is bidding farewell himself.

The 35-year-old Hungarian legend retired on Friday as one of many world’s greatest swimmers to by no means win gold in 5 Olympics.The peak of Cseh’s profession coincided with Phelps’ dominance. At the 2008 Beijing Games, Cseh misplaced thrice to Phelps, who set world information in successful the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 butterfly on his technique to a historic eighth gold medal.“It was very fun to race against him and he inspired me to be better,” Cseh stated.Five years in the past at Rio Olympics, Cseh was denied once more. Fittingly, he tied Phelps and South Africa’s Chad le Clos for silver within the 100 fly behind Joseph Schooling of Singapore. It was Phelps’ closing race, ending a profession through which he received 28 medals, together with 23 gold.Lochte did not make the US staff for Tokyo in what would have been the 36-year-old’s fifth Olympics, leaving the Hungarian because the final man standing of their longtime rivalry.Cseh swam for the final time within the 200 IM closing, 17 years after his Olympic debut in Athens. Fans in Hungary watching at 4 a.m. native time noticed him end seventh in 1 minute, 57.68 seconds — 2.68 seconds behind winner Wang Shun of China.“I’m sorry for the time, that it wasn’t better,” he stated. “I tried to give my best.”Cseh had anticipated to finish his profession final yr in Tokyo, however the coronavirus pandemic postponed the Olympics for a yr. It was a troublesome yr in one other approach, too. His father, László Sr., died final August at age 68. The elder Cseh was a two-time Olympic swimmer.The youthful Cseh’s spouse, Diana, inspired him to maintain coaching.“If I stay home and watch some TV, I would really think, ‘Oh, I could have done this,’ and maybe that would be an everlasting anxiousness for me or regret,” he stated. “This was the best way to close down because now I’m calm in my mind.”Cseh earned a spot in lane eight on the far outdoors of the pool after qualifying with the slowest time.“I didn’t expect him to be here,” stated American Michael Andrew, who was fifth. “It’s an honor to race with him.”In the ultimate, Cseh was second midway via, buoyed by his sturdy butterfly leg, however dropped to seventh over the breaststroke and freestyle legs.“I try to enjoy the races and not just wanting to be the best,” he stated earlier than the race. “Now is the perfect time to close my career, take a rest, and spend a lot of time with my wife.”Cseh received quite a few world and European championships, and he is at peace with the 4 silvers and two bronze medals he received at his first 4 Olympics.“I know swimming and nothing else,” he stated, “but now I realize there is another life.”(With inputs from AP)