Hubert Kós Dominates the US University Swimming Championships

Gold medalist Hubert Kós at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Olympic, world and European champion Hubert Kós won the 200-yard medley and also took the top step of the podium in the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke of the NCAA Division I men’s swimming and diving championships in Federal Way, Washington. Another Hungarian athlete, Zalán Sárkány, also shined at the event with a stunning performance, winning the 1,650-yard freestyle.

In the 200-yard medley Hubert Kós won the grand final with a time of 1:37.91, the second best time in NCAA history. In the 100 yard backstroke, he triumphed with 43.20 seconds, a huge NCAA record, surpassing Luca Urlando’s 2022 record of 43.35. The 22-year-old Hungarian swimmer also earned a second place finish on the third day of the event as a member of the 400 yard medley relay.

The young talent finished the race with a huge victory in the 200-yard backstroke with 1:34.21, triumphing not only with an NCAA record but also a US Open record.

Kós ended up celebrating a team title with Texas – and his coach Bob Bowman – just as he did last year with Arizona State. In the combined team competition, 32 universities competed.

Last year, Kós was named Hungarian Male Athlete of the Year after winning the gold medal in the 200m backstroke at the Paris Olympics.

Zalán Sárkány won the 1650-yard freestyle for Arizona State a year ago, but this year he triumphed for Indiana University, with a time of 14:21.29, the best in the school’s history.

Last Friday, Minna Ábrahám finished second in the 200 freestyle just six hundredths of a second behind the winner with a time of 1:40.56, a huge personal best and the best ever in the event for her school’s USC Troyans (University of Southern California).

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