PULLMAN, Wash. (Feb. 24, 2024) – Washington State freshman swimmer Mira Szimcsak helped her 4x1500 mixed relay team win the bronze medal at the 2024 Open Water World Championships earlier this month.
Szimcsak qualified for the race after finishing second in the qualifying race last November.

Szimcsak's 4x1500 mixed relay team was made of two male swimmers and two swimmers where she swam the second leg while battling competitors in 65-degree water. Following a tough start in the opening leg, Szimcsak was able to make up some ground for her team while battling both male and female swimmers along the way. After passing off to her teammates, Szimcsak went ahead to the finish and was able to cheer on her teammates who closed strong to earn a bronze medal.

A couple days prior, Szimcsak had competed in the in the individual race where she had a chance to qualify for the Hungarian Olympic Team.

"I felt good before the final leg of my portion of the race but on the final turn, I got caught underneath a bunch of swimmers making the turn around the buoy at the same time and I fell behind but that's what's tough about open water swimming," Szimcsak said.

Szimcsak felt she swam well but came in 26^th place, a couple spots short of making the 2024 Olympics.

"It was a long trip and fun couple days but it felt really good to help my relay team win a bronze medal. We didn't have much time to celebrate, after the podium ceremony we toured the city before I went home for a short time," Szimcsak said. "My family wasn't able to make it to the race but I got to see them afterwards and we celebrated with a good lunch but I'm still training for Pac-12's so it wasn't a big celebration."

After the championships, Szimcsak said he lost track of how many text and phones calls she received from friends and family including many from back in Pullman where she has really settled in. One of her biggest fans was Cougar teammate and fellow Hungarian Dori Hathazi.

"It's been really nice and a huge help to have Dori here with me," Szimcsak said. "Just being able to talk in our language has helped me relax but I've had a ton of fun in Pullman. I really liked going to the football games and I love the community, it's a small town and everybody is here together. It was funny, I was walking through the London airport on my trip out and I got a Go Cougs!"

Since returning to Pullman, Szimcsak will now shift her focus to the upcoming Pac-12 Championships.

"Since coming to WSU, the training program has really helped me get stronger and it helps to compete each day with my teammates," Szimcsak added. "My goal is help us put up a big score at the Pac-12's and hopefully make the NCAA Championships."