Aug. 16, 2004
ATHENS - Agnes Kovacs, a senior member of the Arizona State swimming and diving program, finished eighth in the women's 200m individual medley semi-finals Monday, earning her a spot in the final Tuesday for a chance at winning her second Olympic Medal. Kovács, who is competing in her third Olympic Games for Hungary, captured the gold in the 200m breaststroke and finished fifth in the 100m breaststroke in Sydney (2000).
Kovacs finished 4th in the second heat of the 200m IM semi-finals with a time of 2:14.68, qualifying her to compete in the final tomorrow. Kovács also competed in the 100m breaststroke, barely missing the final with a tenth place overall finish (1:09.12) in the semi-finals. She will also compete in the 200m breaststroke on Wednesday.
Senior Florencia Szigeti, competing for Argentina, finished 25th in the 200m freestyle with a time of 2:03.29. Szigeti will also swim in the 100m freestyle event with competition beginning Wednesday.
Former Sun Devil Petra Banovic participated for her home country of Croatia in the 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley. Banovic clocked a time of 2:04.24 (32nd) in the freestyle event and finished 25th in the IM with a time of 2:20.83.
Senior David Kolozar (Hungary) placed 25th in the 200m butterfly with a time of 2:01.89. Former Sun Devil Ahmed Hussein, participating for Egypt, clocked a time of 56.86 in the 100m backstroke to finish 31st.
Yet to compete in the Olympic Games, Sun Devil diver Joona Puhakka (Finland), the reigning 3-meter NCAA Champion, will begin competition on Monday, August 23. Former Sun Devil swimmer, Gavin Meadows, will participate for Great Britain in the 4 x 200m freestyle relay Tuesday.
The swimming events at the Summer Games run through August 21 while the diving events will be contested through August 28.
2004 Olympic Summer Games, Athens, Results:
Agnes Kovacs - Hungary
200m IM semi-finals: 8th - 2:14.68
100m breaststroke: 10th - 1:09.12
Petra Banovic - Croatia
200m freestyle: 32nd -- 2:04.24
100m IM: 25th - 2:20.83
Florencia Szigeti - Argentina
200m freestyle: 25th - 2:03.29
David Kolozar - Hungary
200m butterfly: 25th - 2:01.89
Ahmed Hussein - Egypt
100m backstroke: 31st - 56.86