By James Sutherland on SwimSwam
SwimSwam Pulse is a recurring feature tracking and analyzing the results of our periodic A3 Performance Polls. You can cast your vote in our newest poll on the SwimSwam homepage, about halfway down the page on the right side.
Our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers if Aaron Peirsol‘s super-suited world record in the men’s 200 back would go down to Hubert Kos this year:
Question: Now the owner of the fastest times ever in SCY and SCM, will Hubert Kos break Aaron Peirsol‘s LCM 200 back world record in 2026?
RESULTS
No, the record survives another year – 71.1% Yes – 27.9% It falls, but by someone else – 1.0%Hubert Kos has taken over as the world’s best male 200 backstroker.
But after winning the world title in 2023 and then claiming Olympic gold in 2024, the Hungarian took things to a new level in 2025, taking ownership of the fastest times ever in the event in short course yards and meters.
Kos, who originally broke Ryan Murphy‘s NCAA Record in the 200-yard back at the 2024 Pac-12 Championships in 1:35.69, lost that mark to Destin Lasco (1:35.37) later that season at NCAAs.
Then, at the 2025 Men’s NCAA Championships in late March, Kos rocketed to a time of 1:34.21 in the 200 back final, obliterating Lasco’s NCAA Record by over a second while becoming the first swimmer in history to break the 1:35 barrier.
Kos also set a new standard in the 100 back at NCAAs, clocking 43.20 to erase Luca Urlando‘s 2022 mark of 43.35.
Kos then reclaimed the long course world title in the summer, outduelling South African Pieter Coetze in an exciting 200 back final at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore to win gold in a time of 1:53.19, a new European Record and the fastest swim in a decade, to rank him #5 all-time.
Kos closed out the year with a flourish on the World Cup circuit in short course meters, setting new world records in the 100 (48.16) and 200 back (1:45.12), with the latter mark breaking Mitch Larkin‘s decade-old record of 1:45.63.
Now owning the fastest times ever in both short course yards and short course meters in the 200 back (and 100 back), we asked SwimSwam readers if they think 2026 is the year Aaron Peirsol‘s longstanding long course world record in the event will go down.
Peirsol put up a time of 1:51.92 back in 2009, and since then, Ryan Lochte is the only swimmer who has gone sub-1:53 in a textile suit, cocking 1:52.96 back in 2011.
Despite Kos’ momentum, 71.1% of readers don’t believe Peirsol’s record will fall this year, which makes sense given that Kos still has 1.27 seconds to go to get to that mark. Kos has dropped 95 one-hundredths in the last two years, having gone 1:54.14 back in 2023 before getting down to 1:53.19 last summer.
However, nearly 28% of readers do believe he’ll get the record this year–it’s almost certainly a target for him and Bob Bowman to work towards, and though the ultimate goal will be performing in 2028, Kos’ continuous improvement, coupled with there being no ultra high-pressure meets in 2026, could be the right recipe.
Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks: Which new addition will make the biggest impact for their college team in the NCAA postseason?
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.ABOUT A3 PERFORMANCE
A3 Performance is an independently-owned, performance swimwear company built on a passion for swimming, athletes, and athletic performance. We encourage swimmers to swim better and faster at all ages and levels, from beginners to Olympians. Driven by a genuine leader and devoted staff that are passionate about swimming and service, A3 Performance strives to inspire and enrich the sport of swimming with innovative and impactful products that motivate swimmers to be their very best – an A3 Performer.The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam partner.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: SwimSwam Pulse: 71.1% Think Peirsol’s 200 Back World Record Survives 2026
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