2026 Hungarian National Championships
- April 15-19, 2026
- Prelims
- Day 1, 3, 5: 9:00 am local (3:00 am ET)
- Day 2 & 4: 10 am local (4:00 am ET)
- Finals — 5:30 pm local (11:30 am ET)
- Sopron, Hungary — Lővér Swimming Pool
- LCM (50 Meters)
- SwimSwam Preview
- Meet Central
- Live Results and Start Lists
- Livestreams on YouTube
26-year-old Olympic champion, world champion and world record holder Kristof Milak indeed dove in for his first events at the 2026 Hungarian National Championships, the primary opportunity for the nation’s swimmers to gain qualification for this year’s European Championships.
Milak took on the men’s 100m freestyle and 200m fly prelims this morning, two of the six events among his packed schedule.
The versatile ace reaped the second seed in both races to set himself up for potential success during tonight’s next round.
In the 100m free, Milak clocked a time of 49.20 (23.72/25.48) to get to the wall behind top-seeded man Nandor Nemeth who notched 48.97. Oliver Kos captured the 3rd seed in 49.53.
Then in the 200m fly, Milak posted a morning outing of 2:00.85. That rendered him the 2nd-best performer behind Richard Marton‘s top-seeded result of 1:58.94, the sole swimmer to delve under the 2:00 barrier.
The last time Milak raced was at the 2025 Hungarian Championships, where he won the 100 free (48.76) and 200 fly (1:56.13) and finished 2nd in the 50 fly (23.43) and 100 fly (50.67).
He qualified for Hungary’s World Championships team, but ended up withdrawing from the meet due to lack of training and motivation.
Of note, the course of this competition has changed from recent years past. This time around, semi-finals have returned in the 50-100-200 distances, meaning one has to swim the given distance three times to win medals; however, the B-finals have been discontinued.
That means we’ll see Milak take on the semi-finals of the 100m free and 200m fly this evening in Sopron.
Oliver Kos has been swimming really well lately. Would love to see how fast he can get.
Hum 1.59.88 and fourth.
I don’t know if he will take part in European Championships this ummer.
Despite this, I don’t really see him challenge Marchand (very well-prepared) if Léon races it in about three and a half months.
It’s just semi isn’t it? He is in his own heat, and the other three swimmers are all in another heat. Can’t tell whether he is just cruising or not.
I don’t think anyone expects him to challenge (if you’d like to use this word) Marchand as soon as this year.
Yes, sorry I was wrong 😳
He isn’t in the starlist for tomorrow final !
Also, could any Hungarian friend tell me whether Tamas Kenderesi is officially retired? I know he is serving his ban but is he still planning for a comeback or not?
He has. Currently doing a reality show.
The schedule was just terrible, less than 30 minutes between 100 free and 200 fly in prelims. He still won his heat easily and looked relaxed
Ya, he’s relaxed.
I’m not sure. I remember last year someone also said he was relaxed in the prelim but his 200 fly final time was underwhelming by his standard. His techniques just always look smooth and relaxed. I think we can only find out in the final.
Have they announced selection times or procedures for different international meets?
His 100 free prelim actually looked pretty good. Not sure about the 200 fly but it’s prelim anyway.
Looks fine.
I love Kristof, I always watch back his Budapest 22 200 fly. He has the best male butterfly ability of all time imo
Better than Phelps?
Better.
I mean with all due respect, you were saying this about Laszlo Cseh back in 2016 weren’t you?
I personally think Phelps talent wise was definitely an equal to Milak in butterfly. Like he went 1:59 when he was 14 and 1:54 when he was 15 in the 200 fly. That’s insane.
Milak may have passed the times Phelps set almost 20 years ago, but that’s the nature of the sport as training methods improve and the bar is set higher.
And Phelps was training for 5 individual events. Literally nobody else has won both the 400 IM and a 100 of stroke simultaneously other than Krisztina Egerszegi (in the modern history at least), because it’s almost impossible… Read more »
Nah. MP was also training for like 8 other events.
Why are there semis at this meet
There is an incredibly, mind-numbingly stupid new schedule for Hungarian nats. To “prepare the swimmers for international competition” the Federation decided to emulate Worlds/Olympics schedule with prelims and semis. 1: the literal deepest swimming country on earth, the US, only does this in Olympic years, there is no need for it 2: either times are going to be incredibly slow or 3) everyone will coast through prelims and semis, making the new schedule obsolete, and 4) the prelim/semi system is crammed into 5 days, making reasonable doubles impossible.
I am fuming.
As dumb as USA Swimming adding semis to the Pro Swim Series.
You know my opinion about you, but this BS.