Hosszu steals the show at Doha

DOHA (AFP) –

Katinka Hosszu of Hungary competes in the Women’s 400m individual medley final during the FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2012 in Doha. Hosszu took her Dubai form into Doha as she replicated her seven individual gold medals, one bronze and one mixed team gold effort, stamping her authority on the 2012 FINA Swimming World Cup.

Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu took her Dubai form into Doha as she replicated her seven individual gold medals, one bronze and one mixed team gold effort, stamping her authority on the 2012 FINA Swimming World Cup.

At the Hamad Aquatic Centre, the 23-year-old Hosszu, considered by many as a potential star of the future, won another four individual golds on Sunday in the 400m individual medley, 200m butterfly, 400m freestyle and 100m individual medley.

She then anchored Hungary to a narrow win over Hong Kong in the mixed 200m freestyle relay.

As expected, Olympic gold medalist Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa won the 100m breaststroke with a stunning performance of 57.22s, while compatriot Chad Le Clos won the 100m butterfly with a lifetime best of 49.60s.

Hosszu, who could only finish fourth in the 400m individual medley at the London Olympics, is taking out her frustrations at the World Cup.

Even though her first two wins of the day came against small fields – just three in the 400m medley, where she clocked 4:30.03 to finish ahead of teammate Zsuzsanna Jakabos, and four swimmers in the 200m butterfly – there was no doubting her talent as she returned immediately after her second race.

After winning the 200m butterfly with a time of 2:09.31, she shook off a full field in the 400m freestytle in 4:04.24, more than a second ahead of New Zealand’s Melissa Ingram (4:05.62).

In her final individual race of the day, Hosszu cut almost a second off her Dubai time to win in 59.74secs, with Jakabos second again in 1:00.41.

Japan’s Daiya Seto, with three golds, a silver and a bronze in Doha, leads the men’s tally. Van der Burgh kept his unbeaten record intact, winning four out of four so far while Le Clos is third just behind Robert Hurley.

In the women’s section, Swedish legend, the 35-year-old Therese Alshammar, also won her three events in Doha to be six-for-six so far and is tied for second with Jakabos