2022 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- June 18-25, 2022 (pool swimming)
- Budapest, Hungary
- Duna Arena
- LCM (50-meter format)
- Full Aquatics Schedule
- How To Watch
- Psych Sheets
- Meet Central
- Live Results
- Day 4 Finals Heat Sheets
And he has done it again. Riding off the hype of an electric crowd getting up to cheer for their hometown hero, Hungarian Kristof Milak obliterated the rest of his competition as he broke the world record in the men’s 200 fly final, swimming a time of 1:50.34. He takes 0.39 seconds off his previous world record 1:50.73, which was set at the 2019 World Championships.
With his swim today, Milak cements himself as the most dominant man in the history of the 200 fly, owning eight out of the twelve fastest performances in the event. He is also now 1.17 seconds faster than Michael Phelps, who is the second-fastest performer in the 200 fly, has ever been.
Top 12 Performances, Men’s 200 Fly:
- Kristof Milak (HUN) – 1:50.34 (2022)
- Kristof Milak (HUN) – 1:50.73 (2019)
- Kristof Milak (HUN) – 1:51.10 (2021)
- Kristof Milak (HUN) – 1:51.25 (2021)
- Kristof Milak (HUN) – 1:51.40 (2021)
- Michael Phelps (USA) – 1:51.51 (2009)
- Michael Phelps (USA) – 1:52.03 (2008)
- Michael Phelps (USA) – 1:52.09 (2008)
- Michael Phelps (USA) – 1:52.20 (2008)
- Kristof Milak (HUN) – 1:52.22 (2021)
- Kristof Milak (HUN) – 1:52.39 (2022)
- Kristof Milak (HUN) – 1:52.50 (2021)
Compared to his prelims and semifinals swims where he ran down the field on the last 50 meters of the race, Milak opened up his finals swim incredibly fast. He touched in a scorching 51.89 at the 100-meter mark, a time that would have been considered strong in an individual 100 fly. However, he paid for it on his back half, closing nearly seven seconds slower in 58.45. Milak took out his 2019 race more conservatively in 52.88, giving him more energy on his back half to split 57.85 on the last 100.
Despite fading on his finish, Milak was fast enough to demolish the rest the field regardless, winning the race by 3.03 seconds.
| Kristof Milak, 2022 World Championships (New World Record) | Kristof Milak, 2019 World Championships (Old World Record) | |
| 50m | 24.19 | 24.66 |
| 100m | 27.70 | 28.22 |
| 150m | 28.62 | 28.69 |
| 200m | 29.83 | 29.16 |
| Total | 1:50.34 | 1:50.79 |
At this World Championships, Milak is truly establishing himself as a multi-event generational talent. In addition to his world record, he also anchored Hungary’s 4×100 free relay in a blistering 46.86 free split, and is also now the heavy favorite to win and break the world record in the 100 fly.
It’s good to see him happy and smiling, even joking during the rounds.
Hard work pays off, we will definitely see a 1:49 from him either at Euros or next year
Hoping for a tougher schedule at Euros including individual freestyle events rather than a new WR 200 fly.
Phelps times are from the super suit era, time to stop talking about Phelps and give Milak all the credit he deserves as it happen in the past with other great dominant 200 fly swimmers like Michael Gross, Stewart or Pankratov, MP era ended in 2016
Phelps first set the WR in the 200 fly on March 30th, 2001. His textile best time is 1:52.07 from the 2007 world championship. Besides MP himself, supersuit or not no one else was able to better that time until Milak swam that 1:50.73 on July 24th, 2019.
Even if you exclude supersuit times MP held the 200 fly world record uninterrupted for over 18 years.
Since apparently what used to not have to be said now has to be said: For 18 years no one was even in the same conversation as Phelps when it came to this event. It is a testament to the greatness Milak has already achieved that he has entered that conversation and… Read more »
Just a remainder, who won the gold medal in 2012?
I’m not sure which part is crazier. The fact that Kristof Milak is now more than a second faster than Michael Phelps has ever been, or that Michael Phelps’s best time is still more than a second faster than anyone else besides Kristof has ever been.
To note (as well) that Phelps swam his top times in Speedo LZR Racers “long leg” legskins with polyurethane panels back in 2008 and 2009.
Phelps 1:52,09 is from 2007. But Milak is faster then that with nearly two seconds. And after his post race interview he mentioned, “it wasnt a perfect race. Get in flow and starting to fast. And want to work a lot and get faster, and go under 1:50”. (Hopefully in Paris)
The smoothness of that swim reminds me of Kristina Egerszegi… harmony efficiency Excellence
Perfect comparison. Sadly Milak is only the second born genius in swimming after Egerszegi. His ex-coach said that he never seen someone with ability in fly before Kristóf.
What a swim by Milak. He was disappointed to be “only” 1:51 last year at the Olympics, but has to be thrilled with this.
I also find it fascinating to think about how deep the field of competition is in so many events now – like if Phelps was in his prime in today’s era of swimming, would he focus a bit more narrowly, on say 200fl-200IM and maybe 1 other event, due to the ridiculous talent of the top level competitors?
What’s wrong with you?
Milak “died” in his last 50 compared to his old WR…
…but still outsplit MA.
Phelps in the Rio 200 fly genuinely died and let the field catch him, still outsplit MA
and MA is doing freestyle instead of fly, if he’s doing fly he’ll split 35
35 seems fast
MA’s freestyle is weaker than his fly, he’d probably do 32 though.
For now this is definitely the swim of the meet
booo – before the meet:
“is Milak going 1:50 in the 2 fly?” “maybe” “he’s got a shot” “it’d take a great swim”
“is Marchand going 4:04 low?” “hell no” “no way” “when hell freezes over”
The fact that Marchand’s swim was more unexpected doesn’t make it better.
Milak shouldn’t be marked down for having previously swum a ridiculous time. The same logic applies to Peaty and Ledecky.
The fact is Milak is 1.2 seconds quicker than Phelps, and over 2 seconds quicker than anyone else in history over 200. And over double the distance, plenty of swimmers are within 2 seconds of Marchand (Lochte, Kalisz, Cseh, Hagino, Seto). Not to mention that of course MP is still quicker.
Yeah the fact that he took it out a full second faster than his own WR (and a second faster than I’ve ever seen anyone take out a 200) and came back in 58.4 (the fastest Phelps ever came back) is truly monumental. He instantly made breaking 1:50 seem possible. And he may have slowed on that last lap, but his stroke held together. Scary scary stuff.
And he has the talent and mindset to do it, which was pretty of in 2020.