Kristof Milak Adds Freestyle To Butterfly For European Championships

2022 EUROPEAN AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

With the entry lists for the 2022 European Aquatics Championships now published, we know that Hungary’s world record holder Kristof Milak will be broadening his horizons.

Beyond the 100m and 200m butterfly events, the latter of which he reigns as the current world record holder, Olympic champion and world champion, 22-year-old Milak is entered in the 100m and 200m free.

Milak’s coach Balázs Virth says of his multi-faceted protege, “His training has changed a bit, so we put more emphasis on speed.

“Many people have asked me what results I expect from it. Well, since I don’t like to guess and I don’t usually talk about the color or number of medals, I’ll just say that Kristóf is in good shape. What does that mean? I think everyone knows the answer.”

Milak ranks as the 12th seed in the 100m free with an entry time of 48.24 while he enters Rome as the 6th seed in the 200m free with a seed time of 1:45.74. At the 2020 Eurpean Championships, which actually took place last year due to pandemic postponement, it took 47.74 in the 100m and 1:45.34 in the 200m to make it onto the podium.

However, Mila, himself says that medals themselves are not the sole goal.

“At the European Championships, I will start in many races than before the finals which will require much more tactical racing.

“I have to save my energy during the preliminaries, so in Rome, my goal will not be primarily to finish at the top.” (Blikk)

At the very least Milak will try to defend his 100m and 200m European Championships golds from last year when he established new meet records of 50.18 and 1:51.1.10, respectively.

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Swim4Life
1 year ago

I’ll just say that Kristóf is in good shape. What does that mean? I think everyone knows the answer.”

Well, NOW i’m looking forward to the european championships. Would love to see a 49.44 WR – a nice little motivation for Caeleb to come back even stronger.

Tessa
Reply to  Swim4Life
1 year ago

I doubt we will see 100 fly WR. The 100 fly final and 200 free semi are only 10 minutes apart. He would save some energy as he can win the fly comfortably with a 50-mid something.

Tessa
Reply to  Tessa
1 year ago

Just noticed there is also a relay on the same day for him. I think he definitely won’t go all out in 100 fly.

austinpoolboy
Reply to  Tessa
1 year ago

He might just go all out in prelims in the 200 free for a fun & get a tapered time and then scratch, semis. Why not?

choosy
Reply to  Swim4Life
1 year ago

As he is focusing on the free events at this European Championships , and he will have a loaded schedule with all the free relays + his individual events, we can’t expect a 100 butterfly, WR. He’ll wait for Dressel with it:)

Alex
1 year ago

The schedule will be challenging.
On 13 august he’ll have the 100m Free – Final and then <20 min apart the 100m Fly – SF.
On 14 august he’ll have the 100m Fly – Final and then <20 min apart the 200m Free – SF

Maybe the first one is doable, but for the 200m free, depending on the 200 free SF times, he may not get into the final even…

Last edited 1 year ago by Alex
john26
1 year ago

Hope Milak isn’t throwing away a 1:49 by swimming 100free and 200free’s before his 200fly

Troyy
Reply to  john26
1 year ago

Me too. I want to see that barrier go but I guess what we want doesn’t matter much.

Go Kamminga Go
1 year ago

Anyone knows what’s happening with Dressel?

Timmy Li
Reply to  Go Kamminga Go
1 year ago

ME NO NO

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Timmy Li
1 year ago

Ah ok this isn’t as funny anymore.

Robbos
Reply to  Go Kamminga Go
1 year ago

Some say he Pop out.
Others says he Popped a shoulder
While some harsh says Popoviced

Greg
Reply to  Robbos
1 year ago

You’re a poet.

jeki
Reply to  Robbos
1 year ago

Top comment 😀

Memma EcKeon
Reply to  Robbos
1 year ago

I love Dressel but your comment was perfect

Robbos
Reply to  Memma EcKeon
1 year ago

I have huge respect for Dressel, but just having laugh.

Henri
Reply to  Go Kamminga Go
1 year ago

Presumably he is not swimming. If he was you would have heard about it I think.

This Guy
1 year ago

Would love to see Popovic vs Milak in the 200 free be a thing for the next 6 years!

Pvdh
Reply to  This Guy
1 year ago

Wouldn’t even be close. Popovici is far beyond him the frees

Mr Piano
Reply to  Pvdh
1 year ago

Eh Milak went out in like 23.2 in his really and still went 1:44 mid. I think with smarter pacing and more training for it, he could peak at 1:42. I think that Popovici will probably be unbeaten here for the decade however.

dddddddd
Reply to  Mr Piano
1 year ago

1:42 is more absurd than everyone saying that dressel is able to go 1:44

Troyy
Reply to  dddddddd
1 year ago

And that’s not even the worst of the Dressel predictions because I saw some say 1:43!

swimmer
Reply to  This Guy
1 year ago

Ya that would not be a race

Steve Nolan
Reply to  swimmer
1 year ago

I mean, not right now. But it’s not guaranteed Popovici keeps improving and that Milak doesn’t.

(And like, what’re the odds they both go 1:44.5? Popovici a second slower than Worlds, Milak a second faster. It’s not zero!)

Flipperz
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Milak went 1:50.73 in 2019, when he was arguably still a teenager. It took him a whole three years to improve that mark to 1:50.34. It doesn’t seem like he is one for significant improvements.

Meanwhile, Popovici went from a 1:44.68 to a 1:43.21 in less than one calendar year. And he is still way younger than Milak was when he broke Phelp’s supersuited record. He should get to a 1:42 low or 1:41.x before turning 19, based on what we have seen of his improvement curve.

Kristof Milak fan page twitter
Reply to  Flipperz
1 year ago

You can forget about 2020. There were practically no meets. And he could have got that WR in Tokyo if the jammer thing didn’t happen.

Also he wasn’t prepared for a WR at Worlds initially because he was sick twice at the beginning of this year and only trained massively i would say after Mare Nostrum. After the semi ppl said he could do a WR, then he did it as if it could be done as long as he wanted to. 🙂

Popo is for sure much younger and surging. But let’s talk about this again after he does break that shiny WR.

pille
Reply to  Flipperz
1 year ago

You somehow forgot to mention that Milak went from 1:52.7 to 1:50.7 in a year when he broke Phelps’ WR. There were basically no races in 2020 therefore that year practically doesn’t count, last year in Tokyo he was in great shape, and could have easily got a WR if that unfortunate thing hadn’t happened to him 10 minutes before the final. He showed this year at Worlds how he was able to get into a fantastic shape in a few weeks even if he struggled with illnesses during the preparation. Let’s wait and see what improvements he’ll do.

Popovici is young but don’t talk about him as if he had already set multiple WRs.

Pvdh
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Looks like fantasy booking Milak is gonna be a thing now lol.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Pvdh
1 year ago

Though now that I look at it – Milak went 1:44.6 on the 800fr at World’s, I don’t think it’s that far-fetched he could do that off a flat start. (Esp not when you’re in “the greatest shape of all time” for a 200 butterflyer, y’know?)

Last edited 1 year ago by Steve Nolan
Luigi
Reply to  This Guy
1 year ago

History abounds with examples of great 200 flyers who were also great 200 freestylers (Spitz, Gross, Phelps …) so why not?
However I would also throw Galossi in the mix.

Drewbrewsbeer
Reply to  Luigi
1 year ago

Cseh

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