Kristof Milak Turning Focus Away From 200 Fly For Next Few Months

Coming off of his earth-shattering world record performance in the 200 butterfly at the World Championships back in July, Hungarian Kristof Milak has settled back into training to gear up for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

However, despite becoming the fastest man in history by nearly eight-tenths of a second in the event, the 19-year-old is putting the 200 fly on the back-burner for the next few months.

“In the fall months, I don’t even want to strain on the Olympics, I want to have fun in the competitions and I want to prepare for other (distances) and other (strokes),” he said, translated from his native Hungarian, with Newzeti Sport.

He continues in saying he wants to focus more on speed work right now, “rather than constantly pushing that ‘crazy’ 200 butterfly … I’ve done enough.”

After a follow-up question asking if he hates training for one of the most gruelling events in swimming, Milak replied “no, I just don’t feel like swimming (it) for a while. I’m a little fed up with it and I don’t feel the need to practice this (swim) in the coming weeks or months.”

In the interview, he also discusses his position as the gold medal favorite in the event next year, how he’s dealt with the media attention he’s received since the World Championships, and his potential event lineup next summer.

Check out the full interview, in Hungarian, here.

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IM FAN
5 years ago

What a second, I completely glanced over this, but he said he wanted a change from pushing that “idiot” 200 butterfly.

LMAO I love translations…

Jeff
5 years ago

I would love to see him try out the IMs. We know his fly and free are good and he has entered backstroke events at Europeans juniors in the past. I don’t know how good is breaststroke is but I’d imagine even if it’s weak then he could still do some pretty impressive times particularly in the 200 IM

Dee
5 years ago

The level of talent to smash a legendary WR then decide, actually, I don’t want to do this race now… 🤯🤯🤯

IM FAN
5 years ago

It’s important to understand mentality as part of being an athlete. You have to have some in intrinsic joy in what you do. If he will get more satisfaction out of let’s really being good at the 100 fly, like competing with Dressel, instead of improving further on his currently untouchable 200 fly record., then he should go for it. When your a WR holder, you more than earn the right to go try your hand in another event…

tea rex
5 years ago

My Hungarian may not be up to speed, but I believe he said he wanted to train as a Professional Golfer in the World Long Drive Association.

Sam
Reply to  tea rex
5 years ago

he didn’t

Blackflag82
Reply to  Sam
5 years ago

whoosh…

that was the sound of the original comment flying over your head

DBSwims
5 years ago

Maybe Dressel will do the same and train for the 200 free for the relay or even individual spot.

notaswimmer
Reply to  DBSwims
5 years ago

Milak won the 200 fly by over 3 seconds. Dressel doesn’t have nearly that big of a margin of error in his events, especially in the 50 free and 100 free (assuming Chalmers is healthy). It’d be nice if he’d go for a spot on the 800 free relay but I doubt it’d be prudent for him to compete individually in the 200 free.

swimfast
Reply to  notaswimmer
5 years ago

Eh his 100 fly is essentially a lock @notaswimmer, but I see your point. “Lock” = Regan Smith 200 back, and Milak in the 200 fly- you’re right. Also, just a quick tbt to Smith’s 100 back WR (sorry, slightly irrelevant, but idc)

Togger
Reply to  DBSwims
5 years ago

I think he’ll focus on free, as he’s got a lot less time to play with in the free than the fly, but not sure he’ll put loads of 200 emphasis. He needs the front end speed to win the 50/100.

Sabbioni's Backstroke Wedge
5 years ago

Right now the only shot of him winning gold in the 100 fly is if Dressel DQs, but he could seriously challenge Dressel in 2024, depending on how Dressel ages.

Sir Swimsalot
Reply to  Sabbioni's Backstroke Wedge
5 years ago

Didn’t Milak go 51+ at Worlds? Nowhere close to Dressel. Different people with different skills

Tan
5 years ago

My favorite part: “the ‘idiot’ 200 fly”….so funny from world record holder.

Austinpoolboy
Reply to  Tan
5 years ago

Wondering about the translation. Maybe in the original Hungarian it was something like the “$&8@&8/?***#£¥[%#” 200 fly?

Sam
Reply to  James Sutherland
5 years ago

idiota does not mean idiot in this context, it means crazy

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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