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The 1st Hungarian Nordic Walking Championship, organised by the Nordic Walking Debrecen Sports Association, was held in Debrecen on Saturday, May 10, 2025. The event attracted hundreds of participants from all over the country.
Participants were welcomed by Deputy Mayor of Debrecen Diána Széles, CEO of the Debrecen University Athletics Club Sports Nonprofit Public Benefit Ltd., Marianna Kovács Lóczi and President and Head Coach of the Nordic Walking Debrecen Sports Association Judit Kőrösi, who envisioned and organised the event.
Diána Széles emphasised that this was a historic day for Nordic walkers, as such an event had never been held in Hungary. She credited Judit Kőrösi—the organiser, driving force, and spirit behind Debrecen’s Nordic walking movement—with making it possible. One result of her work is that students at Debrecen University can now engage in Nordic walking as part of their physical education classes. In Debrecen, Nordic walking has gained recognition as a sport that people of all ages can enjoy. The local Nordic walkers are enthusiastic, with small groups regularly walking 8–10 kilometres in the Great Forest (Nagyerdő) early in the morning. The deputy mayor pointed out that the sport fosters an active and healthy lifestyle while allowing participants to connect with nature and form social bonds, despite not being a traditional team sport. She also referenced the “Move, Debrecen!” Initiative, which has promoted community-based exercise since autumn 2021.
Diána Széles further noted that the Nordic walking community in Debrecen is an inspiring example of how a small group can grow into a strong and organised movement, even capable of hosting a national championship. She emphasised that Debrecen is home to many vibrant, cohesive communities dedicated to sports and healthy living. The “Move, Debrecen!” campaign aims to support, showcase, and popularise these groups among the city’s residents.
According to Marianna Kovács Lóczi, the city, Debrecen University, and the DEAC Sports Club have every reason to be proud of hosting the 1st Hungarian Nordic Walking Championship, especially since university athletes were among the participants. She encouraged everyone to enjoy their day in Debrecen—benefiting from good weather, scenic surroundings, and exercise—while strengthening an essential community for the city, Hungary’s Sporting Nation Program, and even international initiatives.
In her opening remarks, Judit Kőrösi highlighted that organising this competition was a team effort. She specifically acknowledged Eszter Faragó Pongráczné, Kata Buglyó, and Ildikó Kathiné Fazekas for their dedicated assistance in making the event possible. She stressed that while she may have the vision, her team helps turn dreams into reality, working tirelessly day and night. She also recognised notable participants, including Csilla Molnár, who travelled from Sopron, and Szilvia Szép, who arrived from Italy. Szilvia Szép shared insights on Nordic Workout, a form of Nordic walking synchronised with music.
Judit Kőrösi described the 1st Hungarian Nordic Walking Championship as a historic milestone, crediting the Nordic Walking Debrecen Sports Association for organising it. She emphasised that the event was not just about athletic results but the collective effort demonstrated by every participant, whether organiser or competitor. She called it a celebration of movement, health consciousness, love for nature, and shared passion. She expressed pride in how this community is collaboratively shaping the history of Nordic walking in Hungary.
The event’s surprise guest was Krzysztof Człapski, a multiple-time Polish Nordic walking champion and medalist at world and European championships. Currently the top-ranked competitor in the Polish and World Cup series, Człapski led group warm-up sessions and competed in the tournament.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
