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Vivien Jackl, a high school junior from Budapest, Hungary, has announced her verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Texas beginning in the 2027-28 school year.
“I’m beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to further my academic and athletic career at the University of Texas.
A special thanks to Coach Carol, Coach Erik and the entire coaching staff at Texas for giving me this opportunity.
I’m so excited for this new chapter and can’t wait to be a Longhorn! 🧡🤘🏼”
Jackl is only 17 years old, but one might be forgiven for thinking she is much older, as she has been on the international scene since 2022. That was the year that she medaled in the 400 IM at European Juniors, placing 3rd with 4:47.51. The previous summer, while still 12 years old, she set a national age group record in the 2021 Hungarian National Youth Championships in Kaposvár with a time of 4:46.47.
In the summer of 2023, Jackl won the 400 IM at Euro Juniors (4:40.66) and medaled in the 400 free (1st), 800 free (2nd), 200 back (2nd), and 400 IM (1st) at European Youth Olympic Festival. In 2024, she represented Hungary at the European Championships, where she won the 1500 free (16:06.37) and was runner-up in the 400 IM (4:38.96). Two weeks later, she swam at Euro Juniors and won the 400 IM (4:39.28), placed 2nd in the 800 free (8:32.33), and finished 3rd in the 1500 (16:19.22). At the end of July, she swam both the 1500 free (15th) and 400 IM (14th) at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Last spring, Jackl kicked off long-course season in the U.S., competing in the TYR Pro Swim Series at Westmont and Sacramento. She also raced at European Juniors, European Championships, World Juniors, and World Championships. So far this season, she has restablished lifetime-best times in the 800 free (8:27.88), 200 breast (2:45.73), 200 fly (2:10.36), and 200 IM (2:17.99).
Jackl is yet another example of the excellence produced by Hungarian youth swimming, in the Katinka Hosszu tradition of “no-bad-strokes-and-the-longer-the-distance-the-better.” Her best LCM times (converted) include:
- 400 IM – 4:34.96 (4:01.94)
- 200 IM – 2:17.99 (2:01.43)
- 1500 free – 16:06.37 (15:47.42)
- 800 free – 8:27.88 (9:29.05)
- 400 free – 4:12.84 (4:43.29)
- 200 free – 2:02.17 (1:47.18)
- 200 fly – 2:10.36 (1:54.91)
- 200 back – 2:14.21 (1:58.74)
- 200 breast – 2:45.73 (2:25.70)
With one more year to improve on her PBs, Jackl would already be a high-impact member of the Longhorns’ roster. Her converted times would have scored in ‘A’ finals at the 2026 NCAA National Championships in the mile (5th) and 400 IM (5th), and in the ‘B’ final of the 200 fly. She will join an absolute banger of a Texas class of 2031, which already includes four of the top 20-ranked swimmers,#1 Audrey Derivaux, #3 Sadie Buckley, #8 Daisy Collins, and #11 Bianca Nwaizu, diver Callie Fox, and New Zealand swimmer Milan Glintmeyer.
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Why can’t she just change her last name to Jackal? Or at least get people to refer to her as “The Jackal”?
I predict the saga of Hubert will tempt a few more talented Hungarian teens to the Longhorns in the future.
… Any male sprinters coming through the pipeline?
A sprinter country we are not unfortunately. But if you need any IMers or 200 flyers… Lol
it’s funny you say that. Feel like Bob hasn’t recruited an IMer since going to Texas. Unless you count Balor. But I mean 2025, 2026 and so far 2027 classes have all been without an IMer. I think a certain Japanese kid might be in that 2027 class being recruited right now but just something interesting.
Our most talented male prospect right now is probably Oliver Pápai, but he is a mid distance freestyler, 1:48/3:49/7:58 at 16. He would fit in well at Texas I reckon, what with the tradition of great mid-d freestyle. We might not actually have anyone all that exciting in the IM department coming up, which is weird, because we always do.
Oooh, which one of the billions of Japanese IMers are you implying?
Kinda wonder what Bob’s got cooking for that 2027 class, don’t know how many more freestylers he’s after.
I think Yumeki Kojima might be on Bob’s radar but also I think Henry Allan is as well in that 2027 class. Also get the impression he’s trying to flip some guys which seems weird because it’s like why not just recruit them in the first place. Either way, don’t think the 2027 class will just be Mijatovic/Call/Crisci as it gets closer to them going to Austin
Not often NCAA gets elite Japanese kids to cross the ocean and compete, but he would be a great get!
Yeah, it’s just a guess. Not confirmed
Nope the Japanese know there is no good sushi in Texas…they all want to come to Tennessee for snail darter sushi and possum steaks!
VFE.
Texas has an insane class for 2028. What are the odds that they’ll win NCAAs in 2028?
All dynasties end, but it’s still difficult to envision anyone approaching UVA in the foreseeable future
The Lady Longhorns dun just picked up a great one. Congratulations to Vivien and Coach Carol. Welcome to the SEC.
“absolute banger”
Ya need to tone down your adjectives as they could be colonel mustard or misunderstood…”Banger”?
how did she go 4:34 but has been under 4:40 only once in the past 2 years and goes 2:17 in the 2 im
Shane Tusup
She’s washed…. I can’t wait to watch the UVA girlies defeat her at NCAAs
It’s the weekend, take a break
I’m Hungarian and have been watching her in the past few years. Yes, the Tusup adventure was not the best for her, but she is strong, and I sincerely hope, that having Nikolett Pádár training with Bowman as well, will help her ease into the Texan atmosphere, which can be a big culture shock for a European teenager. Just the humidity there is enough to make one want to turn around and head back to Europe. Lol.
Have you been in Hungary in late July? She’s well acclimatized.
Padar does not train with Bowman. Other than the D swimmers, women and men are separate at Texas.
McKean’s video came out and like you said, it’s just the distance girls at the OTC