2021 LEN EUROPEAN AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Swimming: Monday, May 17th – Sunday, May 23rd, 2021
- Budapest, Hungary
- Prelims at 10:00 am local/Finals at 6:00 pm local
- Event Site
- Entry List
- Live Results
- Live Stream
Kristof Milak of Hungary demonstrated once again that he is virtually untouchable in his specialty event of the men’s 200m butterfly. While competing on day 3 0f these European Championships, the man pumped out a monster effort of 1:51.10 to not only check in with a new meet record but to beat the world-class field by over 3 seconds.
Milak was on his own world record pace through most of the race, leading the pack in a time of 53.12 on the way out before closing in 57.98. HIs time of 1:51.10 easily crushed his own previous Championships Record of 1:52.79 from the 2018 edition of this meet.
Milak’s time of 1:51.10 represents the 2nd fastest performance ever, sitting only behind his WR of 1:50.73 from the 2019 FINA World Championships. His effort here overtakes his previous runner-up career-best of 1:51.40 he posted just in March of this year. That time already also beat out the previous World Record of Michael Phelps’ which was the 1:51.51 Milak took over in Gwangju.
As such, Milak’s result represents just the 4th time in history that’s been under 1:52. He owns the top 3 swims ever with the Olympic Games on the horizon.
Top 5 All-Time Men’s 200m Butterfly Performances
- Kristof Milak, 1:50.73, 2019
- Kristof Milak, 1:51.10, 2021
- Kristof Milak, 1:51.40, 2021
- Michael Phelps, 1:51.51, 2009
- Michael Phelps, 1:52.03, 2008
Italy’s Federico Burdisso snagged silver tonight in 1:54.28 while bronze went to fellow Hungarian and Olympic bronze medalist Tamas Kendersi who touched in 1:54.43.
A handful of national records also bit the dust in this competitive final, with Burdisso nabbing Italian, Noe Ponti claiming a Swiss and Antani Ivanov hitting a new Bulgarian standard.
For Burdisso, the Northwestern swimmer’s lifetime best of 1:54.28 en route to silver tonight overtook his own previous national mark of 1:54.39 he produced at the 2019 FINA World Championships. There in Gwangju, the 19-year-old finished in 4th pace, just .24 out off the podium.
As for Ponti, tonight’s 5th place performance marks the NC State commit’s 2nd 200m fly record of the meet after having checked in with a heats swim of 1:55.67. Ivanov followed a similar track, posting a new mark of 1:54.72 in the heats.
Men’s 200m Fly Final
Is Milak breathing every second stroke at the first 100 and then every stroke at the second 100?! Why? Do many swimmers do it?
Milak said this:
“I don’t know why but I got really tense in the call room and I almost had to throw up.
“This happens sometimes, especially before the 200m fly when I don’t feel that I’m in really good shape.“
…doesn’t feel that he’s in good shape????
Where did you read that? Can u provide article or video?
https://youtu.be/-4S-N2co26w
At 4:27
Goes out in a :53.1….I mean geez, when I was a boy that was a world record in the 100 butterfly! I’m getting old, but these times are so fast.
I don’t know whats happening here but I’m very proud and happy to see it. Unbeliveable.
He has said in interviews that he has patterned his stroke after MP. It shows.
Not biased, but his stroke is a LOT smoother than Phelps’s. The way he puts his hands delicately on the surface of the water. And the whole stroke is just so relaxed.
Swimming technique is progressing incessantely. Useless comparing swimmers of different eras. Phelps began in the early 2000s and, with Crocker, innovate a lot the fly (and the IM.., and the 200 free in the 2007..). Milak’s first great show was at EuroJuniors 2017, more than 15 years after Phelps’ beginnings. Another swimming age (era).
No doubt.
“Just the fourth time under 1:52?” A bit of an understatement, yes, who else has done that?
The stones on Burdisso to go out with him to the 100……
He held on valiantly too, 1:54.2 is a great time!
1:48 in Tokyo??
Even a 1:49.9 would be the greatest world record ever set, let’s speculate about that before we even dream of 1:48 tbh
Maybe not THE greatest (thinking 8:04 800 KL, for example; others will add to this list undoubtedly from the non-super suit performances), but certainly let’s speculate before even dreaming of 1:48.
I think 1.49 would be more like 7.59 ledecky or something (8 minute barrier as 1.50 barrier) 🤔. Imagine being almost 2 seconds front of Phelps. If they were both competing at the same time, 2 seconds would make Phelps look like cavic and probably fade away without shining not considering the olympic medals and ofc the 400 IM 4.03 performance of Phelps but only the 200 fly performances.
Darnyi breaking the 2 min. barrier in the 200 IM is certainly also one of the great achievements.
And it’s always been controversial but it wouldn’t even be the greatest 200 Fly record – 2:01.8.
Bold claim. Ledecky, Mary T, Thorpe, Peaty —- they’d like a word.
Mary T who?
Madame Butterfly. 100 fly of 57.93 in a drag suit with no underwaters in 1981. Record stood for 18 years. Now say Milak’s 1:49.9 would stand for 18 years.
Milak’s 1:49.9 could probably stand for 18 years if he doesn’t break it himself again.
1.48!?! I will eat my swedes if that happens!
Now 1.49…within the realm
I’ll eat my kickboard if he goes 1:48
I want a video!