ll three race categories of the 43rd LIDL Balaton Crossing have recently reached full capacity, meaning more than ten thousand participants will take on this iconic challenge. But how can even amateur athletes sustain their performance over several hours?
According to Gábor Rakonczay, the real difficulty often lies not in the physical obstacles. “The deepest sense of loneliness comes during long-distance challenges”, he explains. “When your energy is gone and your focus slips, you have to make a conscious effort to bring yourself back to the present moment. That’s when it helps to ask yourself: Why are you here? Why have you trained for this one day?”.
The extreme athlete’s name is associated with feats that demand superhuman endurance. He has rowed solo across the Atlantic, completed an expedition to the South Pole, and crossed some of the most remote regions on Earth – places where coping with solitude is not only a mental challenge, but often a key to survival.
“Spending 75 days completely alone on the Atlantic Ocean, with the nearest land 2,000-3,000 kilometres away – that kind of solitude is almost tangible,” he recalls. “What helped me push through the lowest points was knowing that nearly a hundred thousand people were cheering me on.”
For Gábor, difficulty is always temporary, but the result endures. He believes that in every challenge, a moment comes when it’s no longer the body but the mind that carries you forward. And when you succeed, the experience stays with you – not just as an athlete, but as a human being.
Cheering that reaches the middle of Lake Balaton
So how does the mind help us push through? Research[2] conducted for the upcoming Balaton Crossing[1] reveals that during solitary swimming, each person maintains mental focus in their own way. More than half of the respondents (53%) keep their mind engaged by counting distance or laps, while 49% concentrate on technique and breathing. Others simply switch off and lose themselves in the rhythm of movement.
While 80% of swimmers are primarily driven by internal motivation, support from others plays a key role – both in preparing for the event and in processing the experience afterward. According to the survey, family and friends are the most important source of encouragement. Three in ten participants were inspired to take on the challenge by family members, and two in ten by friends. Once their reach the shore, most swimmers want to share the moment with loved ones: 40% say their partner would be the first to hear about their accomplishment, while 31% would tell their parents or children. One in ten participants would mark the moment by sharing their achievement on social media.
The spirit of support is exactly what inspired this year’s special initiative, the Yettel Cheer Boat, designed to transform the Balaton Crossing into a truly community experience, even in the middle of the lake. Thanks to digital innovation, supporters can now connect with swimmers in real time, no matter where they are. The initiative’s central feature allows anyone – whether watching from the shore or cheering from across the country – to send personal messages of encouragement to participants. These are transmitted via Yettel’s lightning-fast mobile network, to the heart of Lake Balaton, right where they’re needed most. At the halfway point of the course – out in the middle of the ‘Hungarian Sea’ – a massive LED screen displays these messages. They’re also read aloud by an AI-generated voice, so swimmers can hear them clearly and be reminded they’re not alone. Every message becomes a wave of encouragement, reinforcing the power of community.
These uplifting messages are shared continuously – from the start of the first swim to the moment the last participant crosses the finish line – ensuring that the cheering never stops. Onshore, visitors can relay and recharge in the Yettel Cheer Zone, where they can send messages, power up their phones, and follow the action from the middle of the lake via a live screen. Anyone can send a message now via hajrauszok.yettel.hu and become part of this shared celebration of endurance, connection and support.
Video: This is how Gábor Rakonczay prepares for the Balaton Crossing: Yettel Cheer Boat – Be there with the swimmers in the middle of Lake Balaton
Messaging and details: https://hajrauszok.yettel.hu
[1] Planned date of the event: 26 July 2025. In case of adverse weather, reserve days are scheduled for 27 July; 2, 3, 9 and 10 August.
[2] Yettel’s survey was completed by 530 respondents between 12 May 2025 and 2 June 2025. The link to the online questionnaire was shared by BSI on the 43rd LIDL Balaton Crossing’s Facebook page and in its newsletter.