Hungarian Olympic Champion Kristof Milak: I Thought About Quitting

Whenever Hungarian world record holder Kristof Milak speaks, the swimming community listens.

The 24-year-old Olympic champion recently spoke on the MOL Pályán áját podcast about a variety of topics, including the 2024 World Championships in Doha, competing in 2025 and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

After claiming 100m fly gold and 200m fly silver at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the Almos Szabo-coached star bypassed last year’s Short Course World Championships. Instead, he stated in November last year that he would focus on 2025 Singapore.

This vision follows a rocky 2024 where the ace reportedly missed 32 of 38 workouts since last April’s Hungarian Championships.

Reflecting on that time period, Milak stated, “I thought about quitting. But I also thought, why would I waste something that I’ve put years into? I’m blessed with inner qualities that allow me to do this job well and effectively.”

Specifically regarding opting out of the Fukuoka World Championships, Milak said, “It’s hard to remember the details and highlight the key events that led me to say, ‘thank you, but I’d rather not do it [referring to Fukuoka champs]’, because there were a lot of reasons. I couldn’t highlight one thing.

“I think that the more than a decade of work that I had put in before it, when I worked day after day, had a role in it.”

He continued, “I had multiple years behind me, some happier, some less happier periods, for example when I had to race four times in a year.

“These times affected me both mentally and physically, and to do this every year in the same rhythm with the same frequency, it makes a human exhausted – and I am human too.

“This is when I realised that I am not capable, and I also don’t want to accept and handle more of this.

“I always wanted to approach [competitions] wisely, I tried to always give the best, …but before Fukuoka, I did not feel that I could achieve this. I didn’t feel I had the
required fire inside me, the motivation, the disciplined approach. I did not want to go to a competition unprepared, especially given that I knew I was
not well prepared mentally.”

Then heading into the 2024 Olympic Games, Milak clarified, “I did train, but not in the way the Hungarian swimming community would expect me
to.”

He started to swim around December 2023/January 2024 in his club’s pool, originally a 33-meter pool that was made 25m long by putting in a mobile wall. Milak explained that it wasn’t the ideal pool as it is 25-meters long, but he tried to make the most of it, training alone.

On earning silver in the 200m fly as opposed to gold, Milak said, “It was hard to get over the 200 fly [loss].

“I needed some time, some breakfasts in French bakeries.”

Milak did not stay in the Athletes’ Village during the Olympics but did stay near the swimming pool. He said this was the ‘best decision’, to minimize his contact with other people.

Milák said that he would like to be successful at the Olympics in 2028. “The intention is there, my chances are good for now. I like doing it. I don’t promise that I’ll be there, but I’ll do everything I can to be there.”

The swimmer also talked about his motivation in the interview and revealed that he has no problem with training.

“I love competing. Beating myself always motivates me more. I use competitors for my own goals, so that I can get ahead. Somehow I always feel like I’m fighting myself and trying to beat myself.

“When I train for hours and can’t lift my arms and legs, afterwards I feel happy that I died and got ahead. That makes me happy.”