He then broke the one‑minute barrier in the 100m freestyle, finishing in 59 seconds, a milestone he says is “really good, especially for kids my age”.
Hugo’s next target is a 57‑second swim.
While freestyle is his strongest stroke, Hugo also competes in butterfly and is working to improve his backstroke and breaststroke to strengthen his individual medley.
Behind the scenes, his family is holding down the fort.
His parents, Dean and Samantha, are having “lots of early mornings, lots of late nights,” but say it’s worth it when they see their son’s efforts.
“He’s turning up every single day, so we’ve got to do the same as parents,” Dean says.
Though schoolwork remains a non‑negotiable priority, and they expect Hugo to complete it ahead of all training.
After every race, Hugo meets with his coaches for feedback, who reinforce that swimming is as much a mental contest as a physical one.
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right,” Hugo says.
On difficult days, he finds the water calming rather than daunting.
“If I have a bad day and I dive in the water, I just calm down instantly. The water’s my happy place.”
Looking ahead, Hugo’s long-term goal is to swim at the Olympics.
Waikato swimmer Hugo Krompass trains five days a week in the pool.
He knows the competition, especially in Waikato, is strong.
He admits he sometimes looks at other swimmers’ times and can’t believe they’re real, but he uses that as fuel rather than discouragement.
Alongside his sporting ambitions, Hugo has another dream: studying palaeontology and travelling the world searching for fossils.
For now, though, the focus is on swimming and school.
Graeme “Mintie” Mead is a sports commentator, the host of the radio show Waikato All Sports Breakfast and a Newstalk ZB overnight host. He is also a councillor on the Hamilton City Council.