When did you start playing sports, and what or who inspired you to begin?

I started swimming when I was four years old, when my parents enrolled me in swimming lessons on a doctor’s recommendation. I ended up loving it so much that, 20 years later, I’m still doing it.

Who do you owe your current success to the most?

Definitely my parents, who have sacrificed so much for me. I’m also incredibly grateful to two of my coaches, Péter Karvalics and Péter Horváth. They both supported me and believed in me when no one else did.

What are your future plans and goals, both in sports and outside of sports? (In the USA and afterwards?)

I’m currently working toward my bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Once I graduate, I would like to apply for a master’s program at Politecnico di Milano.

How supportive were your parents and family of your plans to study and compete abroad?

My family fully supported me in pursuing my dreams and plans.

In your opinion, what are the advantages and challenges of American college life?

One of the biggest advantages is that it teaches you to be completely independent while also giving you the opportunity to experience a different culture.

What do you do outside of school and sports?

Very occasionally, I have some time to relax, but Mechanical Engineering is a demanding major, and I also have a minor in Physics, so I don’t have much free time. I usually study, train, or work.

What does a typical day look like for you?

My weekdays are usually very busy. I train twice a day, have three or four classes, often have lab sessions, and I also work.

How is training in the U.S. different from training in Hungary?

It’s completely different from what I was used to back home. There is less emphasis on sports here, while academics are given greater priority. The training sessions are also shorter, and there is more emphasis on enjoying ourselves.

How is your diet in the U.S. different from your diet back home?

Food is a huge challenge for me. I follow a gluten-free and dairy-protein-free diet, and unfortunately, there are nowhere near as many options here as there are in Europe. The quality and taste of the food don’t come close to what I’m used to in Europe. I have to pay much more attention to when, how much, and what I eat than I did back home.

What has been your greatest memory or achievement since you started swimming? What are you most proud of?

I can’t single out just one memory. Swimming has been a part of my life for 20 years, and it has given me countless wonderful memories and taught me so much.

One of my most recent highlights was standing on the podium at the Conference Championships in both the 1,650-yard freestyle and the 1,000-yard freestyle.

What advice would you give to young athletes who are considering taking this opportunity?

Go for it! You have nothing to lose. You can experience so many new things, improve your English, and discover a completely different culture. And if you end up not liking it, you can always go back home.

How did you manage with the language when you first arrived?

I struggled with English at first. It took me an entire week to realize that instead of Political Science, I had accidentally been sitting in a Psychology class! :D

But that’s how you learn, and today I feel comfortable and confident using English.

Have you had the opportunity to work while attending university? If so, what has your experience been like?

Yes. I’m currently a Resident Advisor, and I also work at Caltech as a physics researcher. There are incredible opportunities available, and jobs like these can be extremely valuable experiences.

How easy or difficult was it for you to fit in?

It wasn’t easy, especially being the only European on my team. Overall, though, everyone has been kind and understanding. Both my teammates and classmates appreciate my sense of humor and are interested in my culture.

Have you been able to build connections, and how important do you think networking is?

Fortunately, I’ve been able to build some great connections. I currently have the opportunity to work with a Nobel Prize-winning professor, and we are involved in a research project together.

I also have many engineering and physics professors who help me improve academically while also supporting me in everyday life.

In your experience, is there such a thing as the “American lifestyle” or the “American dream”? If so, how is it different from life back home?

I’ve had the opportunity to meet many different people, including Hungarians who emigrated to the United States. In my opinion, and based on what they’ve told me as well, the famous “American dream” doesn’t really exist anymore.

My fellow European students and I often talk about how this society is centered around extremely hard work, with very little time to truly relax. Many people have two or three jobs just to maintain a basic standard of living, and many rely heavily on loans.

Among the people we know in California, many have never even left the state in their entire lives. Personally, this was disappointing for me because I realized that the famous American dream I had imagined no longer really exists.

How do you think your years in the U.S. have affected your personality?

I feel like I’ve become a much more well-rounded person and developed a broader perspective on the world. I’m very glad I decided to take this opportunity because I’ve learned so much outside the classroom as well.

Have you ever considered staying in the U.S. for a few years after graduation, or perhaps even longer?

I can confidently say that I don’t plan to stay here after finishing my studies.

I think studying and living here for four or five years is an incredible opportunity. It allows you to experience so many things and grow tremendously as a person, but for me, this chapter has reached its natural end.

I’m grateful for everything this experience has given me, but I feel that it’s time to move on.

What do you think about the American education system? What do they do better or at least differently compared to Hungary?

I currently attend a private university, which, in my experience, is on a completely different level compared to a public university.

There are only about four to eight students in my classes, which allows professors to give us much more individual attention. The professors are very kind and genuinely want their students to be as successful as possible.

Of course, I can’t directly compare European and American higher education because I’ve never experienced university life in Europe.