2022 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- June 18-25, 2022 (pool swimming)
- Budapest, Hungary
- Duna Arena
- LCM (50-meter format)
- Meet Central
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- SwimSwam Fantasy Draft
- Psych Sheets
The 2022 FINA World Aquatics Championships psych sheets have been posted, which means that we can get a more thorough glimpse into the men’s and women’s fields most likely to take to the Budapest starting blocks in each event.
Set to defend his 200m butterfly gold from the last edition of this competition in Gwangju, Korea, as well as land on the podium in the 100m fly, Kristof Milak has the confidence of Hungarian national team coach Csabo Sos behind him with the swim competition beginning just three days from now.
“Milak is a world-class swimmer; he is such a shining star that you don’t even have to be a professional to see it,” says Sos.
Milak will be battling American multi-Olympic champion Caeleb Dressel in at least the 100m fly, although Dressel’s owning the world record doesn’t deter Milak’s gold medal-winning chances in Sos’ eyes.
“I like Dressel very much,” says Sos. “He’s a very nice, likable guy. But Milák is the younger one. And I mention this only because just as a young boxer is not allowed to go against an adult of the same weight because they would beat him down, in swimming, a part of physical strength comes with age, that is, in addition to training, there is definitely a natural development in terms of strength. (Hungary Today)
“And this is very evident in the 100m butterfly, and this tells me that Kristóf will eventually catch Dressel sooner or later.” (Hungary Today)
In terms of best times in the men’s 100m fly, Dressel’s World Record stands at the 49.45 World Record he established en route to grabbing gold in Tokyo at the 2020 Olympic Games. However, snagging silver there in Tokyo was Milak, with the 22-year-old posting a mark of 49.68 to produce a new lifetime best and European Record. As such, just .23 separated the pair of dynamos in the race.
Sos, however, says that things are a little different this time around for Milak with a home-based World Championships.
“So far, we have not allowed Kristóf to take risks, but after winning all the titles, we expect him to enter the fight even if the relay collides a little with his individual events.
“Nándor Németh has only gotten better since then, Balázs Holló has improved a lot, and Richárd Márton is a very reliable swimmer. Our 400m freestyle relay won the bronze medal at the World Championships five years ago, and since then, the team has stepped onto the starting block at every world competition, so we pretty much know where we are.
“But the same thing cannot be said about the 4x200m team. I am very much looking forward to what the boys will be able to do. “
Milak’s 100 fly swims in Tokyo were an obvious fluke. He was nowhere close before Tokyo. He’s been nowhere close since Tokyo.
Well if Milak improves his starts and turns, he’s a chance. Let’s be honest, no one expected him to be that close to CD in Tokyo – he surprised himself too. As a swim fan it’s just awesome to see this improvement in the100m fly. To think Sydney 2000 was won in 52.0
I am not no one. (I didn’t just think he’d be close, I thought Milak could win.)
How’s Milak’s prep been this year? He hasn’t seemed as speedy in season.
probably related to his coach change. we’ll see in a few days anyway
It’s nuts, commenters gave Milak basically zero chance of beating Dressel in the 100 fly last year when it was probably an idk, 10-20% shot.
Dressel’s still the favorite until he’s beat, but it’s even more likely that happens this year.
He might catch Dressel when Dressel turns 100 and is broken down in a wheelchair. Even Cseh caught Phelps in their last race.
did he finally stop smoking? bouta drop some world beating times
Canelo Alvarez was boxing grown men at 15 years old. Mike Tyson was knocking out men at 18-19 years old (and won the heavyweight title at 20). Weird analogy from the coach. At 22, you’re no longer a kid. Didn’t Phelps set just 3 PBs past the age of 24 (2 in Rome 2009, 1 in Shanghai 2011, 0 in his final 2 Olympics)?
And Ian Thorpe stopped setting WR’s at age 20. Advancing in age is no guarantee of improvement in our sport.
But it is if you’re going from an endurance event to a power event like 200 to 100 fly
Not if Dressel goes 48 at some point