Hungary’s Hubert Kos, 23, was already world 200m backstroke champion when he won the Olympic title in that event at the Paris 2024 Games. He returns to the French capital this summer in search of a third individual European title after winning the 200m individual medley in 2022 and 2024.

Kos, who trains in Texas under the guidance of Bob Bowman – also coach to France’s quadruple Olympic champion Leon Marchand – retained his world title last year in a European record of 1:53.19.

He then set short-course world records in the 100m and 200m backstroke en route to winning the overall men’s World Aquatics Swimming World Cup title with a perfect record.

Looking back now on your Paris 2024 experiences, which do you most clearly recall? 

In Paris my dreams came true. My first Olympic final, my first Olympic medal and it was gold… I made the cut for the Tokyo 2020 Games but I was very disappointed in my performance. With no fans in the stands it was not a traditional Olympic experience – but I still learned a lot.

Now I can’t wait to return to Paris with the memories of Olympic success still fresh in my mind but also those of the subsequent celebrations hanging out with Leon (Marchand, Kristof Milak and my brother Oli. The atmosphere in Paris that second week was incredible.

What do you remember of the Olympic atmosphere and the city? Did it feel different to other competitions?

After I was done with my racing I stayed till the Closing Ceremony and it was a brilliant experience. All athletes became fans, stands were full, the atmosphere of the Games was amazing.

I had some time to explore the city and there was a great vibe on the streets. Of course, the gold in my pocket boosted my enjoyment of the city!

Still, I felt that everyone wanted to have fun and was aware that, ‘hey, it’s Games time, enjoy every moment of it!’ I hope it will be something similar at the Europeans this summer.

How different as an athlete and a person do you think you are heading into Paris 2026 compared to Paris 2024? 

Of course in some aspects I’ve changed and yet I’d like to think I’ve very much stayed the same in terms of the things that matter in life. As a swimmer, I am very much the same athlete, mostly because Bob (Bowman) makes sure we all keep our feet on the ground and focus on the work.

He simply doesn’t let success get to our heads, he keeps our motivation at the highest level. I have the same hunger for success and the same motivation to deliver big performances.

As for the changes, I started to realize that more people recognise me and approach me.

I’ve always appreciated how my idols such as Darnyi, Cseh and Gyurta engaged with me so I know and understand how important it is for me to engage with people and kids in the same way.

The kind of image I show to the future generations is really important and I see that as an obligation to be taken seriously – but also a real privilege.

2025 saw you win a third successive global 200m backstroke title. You also earned nine wins out of nine at the World Cup, setting two world records. Did any of this surprise you?

Honestly, the world records did surprise me a little but they were on my radar so to speak.

Back in 2024 I was confident that I could break the WR in the 200 back at the short-course Worlds in Budapest in the magic pool of the Duna Arena, in front of my home crowd, but I missed it by 0.02 seconds. Those are the fine margins in swimming. 

After a very long time, finally, I had a break – a longer holiday with my family, and it seems the rest helped a lot.

I had two weeks of training behind me when I hit the pool at the World Cup meets. Still, in the back of my mind, I thought I might bring one or two records down as at the NCAAs in March I became the fastest man ever over 100 and 200 yards.

So I had the experience, confidence and tools to achieve big things in short-course metres as well. And I’m pretty happy that finally I could set my first adult world records. Now I’m looking to transferring all this to long-course.

What are your ambitions for Paris 2026? You have won successive European golds in the 200m IM. Have you decided on your racing programme in Paris yet?

I’m still finalising my schedule and I’m keen to test myself over some different events. However the programme is against me once more with the 200 IM clashing with the 100m back. But let’s see, maybe Leon will do me a favour! Achieving a triple would be awesome.

Still, there is another interesting storyline with the 200m back. My best effort so far in the Europeans was an eighth place in Rome.

I have no medals in my main event from any continental championships, either long- or short-course, so it would be great to finally win it. One way or the other it’s going to be a challenging and exciting experience for me.  

How significant will the Paris 2026 Championships be for you in terms of a marker on the route to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics?

Very significant! We have already started our Olympic training cycle and as the Olympic programme is changing this is one of the last opportunities to try new events at a major meet where is a lot at stake and I can race with outstanding rivals.

This is the ultimate test before the 2027 World Championships in my home city of Budapest and the following year’s Olympics in Los Angeles. This will have a massive influence in deciding which events I’ll pick for the next two years as I want to widen the circle, for sure.

Were you able to have friends and family watching you in Paris. If so, how special was that and will it happen again this summer?

As always my family were watching me from the stands in Paris and it meant a lot to have them there. I hope we’ll have something to celebrate once more in August but I’m also hoping that my younger brother Oli will make the team with me – he’s close right now!  

Did you have much chance to experience Paris as a city in 2024? Any particular places/scenes that resonated strongly? What will be on your city wishlist this summer?

We had a hotel next to la Defense during the Games, next to the venue, so it was a great place. Of course once we finished with our swims we visited other places.

I can recall we discovered a fantastic restaurant on the Champs-Elysées – Brasserie Fouquet’s – and Kristof (Milak), Oli and I ate there almost every day.

The Walk of Champions at the Trocadero was also an unforgettable experience – shooting a picture of the Eiffel Tower from that stage was pretty cool too.

This year I don’t have a wish-list for our trip to Paris, however. It looks like I will be there for the competition days only and then a very short break at home and back to work with Bob…!

Swimming at the European Aquatics Championships Paris 2026 will take place from August 10 to 16.

Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics