Adam Marosi dominant as he claims European title

After starting the day by sharing top spot in the fence after 24 winning bouts, Hungary’s World No.1 Adam Marosi was the man in charge in the European Championships Final as the 28-year never relinquished his lead all day as he crossed the combined event finish line first to take gold and the title of European Champion.

He started in blistering form, great with the epée, he took 976 points on the pistes, just like Ukraine’s Dmytro Kirpulianskyi to take first place after the first event of the day.

His time in the pool, recorded at 2:02:18 kept him top of the leaderboard and although he made several mistakes in the riding event, the challenging course ensured that his pursuers did not overhaul his lead and he began the combined four seconds ahead of Russia Aleksandr Lesun.

Marosi then expertly managed the ultimate event of the day with some brilliant shooting and as always some powerful running, taking gold in irrepressible style.

His compatriot Robert Kasza made it a Hungary one-two after overtaking Lesun in the combined to take silver, the Russian having to settle for bronze. The Marosi and Kasza combination also ensured Hungary victory in the team competition.

The French pair of World Cup Final winner Valentin Prades and World Cup #4 bronze medallist finished fourth and fifth respectively, giving France silver in the team competition.

The fastest swimmer, Nick Woodbridge from Great Britain, just quicker in the pool than his compatriot and World Record holder Jamie Cooke, was third with two events to go, but too many mistakes in the ride saw him start sixth in the combined. In the run-shoot event, he was out of sorts and in the end finished a lowly 23rd.

Pierpaolo Petroni of Italy and Belarus’ Pavel Tsikhanau both scored perfect rides, claiming each 1200 points but after finding themselves each time out of the top 10 in both the fence and swim, finished the day in sixth and ninth respectively. Petroni did not leave empty handed however as his efforts, along of those of his compatriots Riccardo de Luca and Nicola Benedetti gave Italy a bronze in the team competition.