The Hungarian Swimming Federation has released an official statement revealing the future of 200-meter butterfly world record holder Kristof Milak, 24.
In the announcement, the Federation states that the 24yo swimmer will be guided and supported by coach Almos Szabo, already a recognized figure in the world of Paralympic swimming. Following the Paris Olympics, whose lead-up was marked by tensions between the swimmer and Hungarian official figures, the Federation reached an agreement with Milák’s club and employer, Honvéd. This agreement included appointing a liaison to provide regular updates on the Olympic champion’s preparation, as well as his needs related to breaks, retires, competition, and other logistical aspects.
Moreover, the statement confirms that Kristof Milak will not compete at the upcoming Short Course World Championships in Budapest. The official note states:
“Based on discussions, we have agreed that Kristóf will not participate in the short-course World Championships in December in Budapest. Instead, he will focus on preparing for the 2025 World Championships in Singapore, where he hopes to achieve results similar to those of 2022, his last World Championship appearance.”
This is according to Sándor Wladár, President of the Hungarian Swimming Federation, who added that Milák’s new coach is already preparing the training and competition program for the upcoming summer, which the Federation pledges to fully support.
WHO IS ÁLMOS SZABÓ?
Almos Szabo is a former swimmer who, since 2016, has been preparing several successful Hungarian Paralympic swimmers. Among Szabo’s trainees are Paralympic champion Fanni Illes, who is also his wife; Bianka Pap, and Zsofia Konkoly. Illes won a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and a silver medal in Paris, both in the SB4 100 breaststroke. Pap has 8 Paralympic medals, including two golds from Paris, and Konkoly has seven Paralympic medals, including three total golds.
Szabó previously worked with Kristof Milak when his former coach, Balazs Virth, attended the Doha World Championships with the rest of the team, temporarily looking after Milák’s training. The rest of the staff assisting Kristof Milak in his preparations for the 2025 competitive season will be announced soon.
Backstory
Milak’s training has become a hot topic globally. The World Record holder in the 200 fly was the subject of a number of accusations by his former coach Balazs Virth that Milak had been training inconsistently in the leadup to the 2024 Olympic Games as part of a roller coaster few years of apparent conflict with his coach and federation and questions about his training habits.
In spite of that, Milak won the 100 fly and finished 2nd in the 200 fly at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, though neither swim was a best time.
Olympic gold in 100fly is arguably more impressive than Olympic gold in the 200fly, and silver to Marchand in Paris is OK too. Milak will be fine. Maybe he can even be competitive in the freestyle.
He will be 25 by the time that the Singapore World take place. By then, he will already be slightly past his physical prime as a swimmer. I guess we will never see that 1:49.xx LC 200m fly. Such a waste of potential.
Lochte had his prime way after 25. Dressel broke the 100 fly WR at 25. Laszlo Cseh was 2 tenths off his supersuited best in the 200 fly at 30 years old in 2016. Milak is starting to run out of time, but let’s not bury that 1:49 just yet.
Hungarian swimming federation just collapsed and will begin to call daddy Milak irresponsible until he silences them with a 1:49.90 in Singapore that makes Marchand look like toast
It has been announced about a week ago. Not surprised at all; though his UWs are more than decent (although his turns are terrible), he never cared for SCM. It does reduce our medal chances to Hubi Kos and David Betlehem (maybe Szebasztian Szabo?), but what can you do?
Get this swimmer to be a swimmer challenge: impossible