Hungarian Swimmer Competes Despite Boycott Threat as Russians Return to European Championships

Hungarian open-water swimmer Fábián will participate in the European Championships, reversing her earlier boycott threats due to improved water quality in the Seine River. For most of July, the river's water quality remained within acceptable limits, easing concerns about the safety of the competition.

Organizers have implemented measures to ensure a safe event, including selecting a different course than the one planned for the Olympics. Daily water quality monitoring will be conducted, and contingency plans are in place should the water quality deteriorate. Fábián will be joined in the Hungarian open-water team by Mihályvári-Farkas Viktória for the women's events and Rasovszky, Betlehem, and Kovács-Seres Hunor for the men's.

The pool swimming events, scheduled from August 10-16, will feature twenty-one Hungarian swimmers. Kós Hubert, the 200m backstroke Olympic champion from Paris, is expected to compete in multiple individual events and relays. The championships also serve as a finalization of the program for the 2027 Budapest World Championships, aligning with the schedule for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Another major attraction will be Milák Kristóf, who returns to international competition for the first time in two years since his Olympic gold in the 100m butterfly. While he won't face Léon Marchand in a rematch of their 200m butterfly race from Paris, Milák has focused on shorter distances during his preparation. Meanwhile, British breaststroke star Adam Peaty, competing under his married name Adam Ramsay-Peaty, faces a critical juncture. After disappointing bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games, Peaty is using the European Championships to decide whether to continue his career through to the Los Angeles Olympics.