The 2026 European Swimming Championships are set to take place in Paris, France, from August 10-16, 2026, and the entry lists have revealed some intriguing decisions by top swimmers. One notable absence is world record holder Kristof Milak, who is not entered in the men's 200 fly for Hungary. This comes as no surprise, given his recent performance at the Hungarian Championships, where he scratched the final and his season best was a mere 1:59.88, far from his world record of 1:50.34. Milak's focus seems to be on sprint events, as he is entered in the 50 free, 100 free, 50 fly, and 100 fly, with impressive seeding. His recent lifetime bests in the 50s and a silver medal in the 100 free at the previous Championships make him a strong contender in these events.
Another Hungarian swimmer, Hubert Kos, has a more varied lineup, entering six events, including all three backstroke distances, the 100/200 fly, and the 200 IM. Kos is a medal contender in the 100 back and 200 IM, but if he were to swim the 200 fly, he would face a challenging schedule, with the 200 fly final, 200 IM semi-final, and 100 back final all on the same day. The absence of Hungary from the men's 4x200 free relay, which they won in 2022, further suggests that Milak may not be participating in relays. Despite this, Hungary still has a strong team with swimmers like Nandor Nemeth and Oliver Papai, who can potentially make a podium run.
The women's 4x200 free relay also saw changes, with Lilla Minna Abraham now entered as a relay-only swimmer. She was previously named to the full team but is now the reigning European U23 champion in the 200 free, tying with her teammate Nikolett Padar. However, the absence of Dora Molnar from last year's quartet and potential concerns about Abraham's peak condition could impact Hungary's performance in this event. The Championships promise to be an exciting spectacle, with these strategic decisions adding an extra layer of intrigue to the competition.
