2021 HUNGARIAN SPRING NATIONALS
- March 23 – 27
- Budapest, Hungary (Danube Arena)
- LCM (50m)
- Day one prelims results
Yesterday world record holder Kristof Milak put up a monster performance in the heats of the men’s 200m fly, rocking an effort of 1:52.50. That alone was already one of the fastest in history, with just himself and American Olympic icon Michael Phelps having been faster. You can read more about Milak’s phenomenal heats swim here.
However, it turns out that result was merely the tip of the iceberg as the 21-year-old world champion turned in a finals time of 1:51.40 here in Budapest. That’s right – 1:51.40, a mark which represents the 2nd fastest performance of all-time. His outing here this morning beat out the previous World Record of Phelps’ which was the 1:51.51 Milak took over at the last edition of the World Championships. As such, this outing this morning represents just the 3rd time in history that’s been under 1:52.
Milak crushed an opening 100m of 52.73, before clinching the victory in a backhalf of 58.67. That easily topped the podium here at Hungarian Spring Nationals, with the next-best swimmer represented by Olympic medalist Tamas Kenderesi who touched in 1:56.02. David Verraszto rounded out the top 3 in 1:57.22.
Milak owns the world record in the 1:50.73 historic result he posted at the 2019 FINA World Championships en route to grabbing gold there in Gwangju. In that race, the man who was hit with coronavirus and missed the entire ISL season last year, split 52.88/57.85.
After the race this morning, Milak stated. “The last fifty did pretty badly.” He also stated that his ‘serious preparation’ for the Olympic Games begins now, which makes us a little nervous about what’s in store for Tokyo based on this ‘untrained’ nearly record-breaking performance.
Top 5 All-Time Men’s 200m Butterfly Performances
- Kristof Milak, 1:50.73, 2019
- Kristof Milak, 1:51.40, 2021
- Michael Phelps, 1:51.51, 2009
- Michael Phelps, 1:52.03, 2008
- Michael Phelps, 1:52.09, 2007
As a bonus, Milak also took the men’s 50m free event this morning, crushing a time of 22.19. That’s a big-time personal best for the man whose previous career-quickest was represented by 22.66 from just this past February. Milak now becomes Hungary’s 4th fastest 50m freestyler ever.
I really think he will be capable of doing something extraordinary at the Olympics and not only in butterfly. He went 1:44:81 in the 4×200 freestyle relay and 48:00 in 100 freestyle.
Tough call for sure. I think Peaty could come out of nowhere to have a chance to win the 100 breast as well. I know both are long shots, but gotta maximize those pick ’em points and choose some that others aren’t
So now we know what happens when you take a race out like le Clos and bring it home like peak Phelps.
That “terrible” last 50 was still sub-30 lol.
200 free medal? Maybe gold? Watch out for that one… more likely than beating Dressel in the 100.
He anchored today’s 4×200 time trial in 1.44.86, not too shabby
Presumably this was also his third swim of the day
100 fly will be huge this between him and Dressel.
He might get 49 high or 50 low but Dressel’s start/athleticism gives him such an advantage in the 100s. He can easy speed a first 50 what is often anyone else’s sprint. This allows him to close a 100 how most middle distance swimmers will close a 100. Dressel will beat Milak by a body length in the 100 fly this summer.
Dressel is the favourite but im going to hold my prediction until after we see what he does in his 100 fly.
If he can be at his best in both events at the same time then it will be a very exciting race. But in 2019 when he went 1:50 he barely broke 51. If he goes 1:49 I’d expect 50-low potentially, he just doesn’t have the same speed as Dressel (nobody does really)
I still think that we haven’t seen the best of Milak in the 100 fly.
He was 50 point as a teenager in 2017 to win the silver medal at Worlds, back when his 200 was 1:53. That was an amazing swim, just got lost in the furore of Dressel’s 49.
I know improvements in 200 don’t necessarily translate to the 100, but you’d think that a four-ish second drop in the 200 would mean he at least goes a 49?
You mean 200 fly? I think everyone knows since 2019 that 200 fly is a lock for Milak. He is the WR holder and nobody can go anywhere near his best time. I assume it was a joke from your side.
He definitely could win this in Tokyo.
From his 50 free I’d say he’s a solid dark horse in the 100m free. Wouldnt be surprised if he drops something like a 47.5 100 free this week.
22.19 in the 50m free and 1.51.40 in the 200m fly.. Sub 1.45 in the 200m free incoming?
Well, if there were any doubters who somehow thought his WR was a fluke of some sort… they’re certainly quiet now. Beat the GOAT’s supersuited WR twice now, and this time shortly after a bout of COVID
It wasn’t a supersuit record, it was half textile, and didn’t have the taping like today’s suits. But it is impressive to see Milak rebound from Covid like this!
I would call a half textile something more like Phelps’s 400 IM.
Bro he was literally wearing the same suit in the 400 IM lol
He was wearing legs only in 400 IM. LOL.
Yea he did the same thing in the 200 fly…. did you like never watch the 2009 wr? He took 6 months off of training and still went 1:51.5
Milak would’ve crushed him in the 200, and Dressel in the 100 fly with everyone in textile.
He wore that for the 100, not the 200 fly.
It was 100% a supersuit record.
It’s nonsensical to say it was half-textile and therefore not a supersuit. Even the Arena X-Glide was at least 2% textile, so should we argue that was only part supersuit as well?
If it’s 100% textile, then it’s textile. If it’s a bit textile and then a significant composition of polyurethane, then it’s absolutely a supersuit.
Literally don’t know why you’re trying to re-write the definitions around the suits. Phelps swam amazing times in and out of them. Milak’s achievements don’t need to be diluted by some suggestion that the time everyone is comparing him to was now somehow set in a normal suit. It wasn’t.
It “half textile” because he wore half of a full body suit (just leggings), not because of the exact composition of the suit material.
Nor have I. At no point have I said any such thing. What I am saying is they are in the same category.
Piano was arguing that Phelps’ 2009 time wasn’t a supersuit time. It was, because it was set in a supersuit.
Maintaining that is not somehow suggesting that he was wearing a full body Arena X Glide in disguise. It is simply acknowledging that he was wearing a suit that was in the same category of suits that used technology and non-textile materials to go faster.
While suits these days still push the limits, they are now severely restrained in what they can and can’t do. Phelps’ 2009 suit didn’t face any of those restraints. Arguing that is… Read more »
I was literally the first person to attack the people who put down Milak for breaking Phelps’s wr. All I’m saying is that Phelps’ PR of 1:51.51 should not be put down as it often is. Dude went 1:52.0 in crappy jammers in 07.