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Kristof Milak Posts 48.38 100 Free In Comeback Swim At Hungarian Nationals

2024 HUNGARIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

We’re keeping our eyes on Olympic champions Kristof Milak and Katinka Hosszu as both are making their comeback debuts at the 2024 Hungarian National Championships.

Already this morning both world record holders made their presences known, with Milak taking the top seed in the men’s 100m free while Hosszu landed lane 4 for tonight’s women’s 200m IM final.

Milak’s morning time checked in at a solid 49.02 but the 24-year-old took things up a notch to register a gold medal-worthy result of 48.38 this evening.

Milak opened in 23.00 and closed in 25.38 to beat Nandor Nemeth who settled for silver in the only other sub-49-second result of 48.54. Bence Szabados clocked 49.13 as the 3rd place finisher while the top 7 performers were all under the 50-second threshold.

Milak owns a lifetime best of 47.47 in the 1free, a time he logged en route to snagging silver at the 2022 European Championships.

The World Aquatics Olympic Qualification Time rests at 48.34, a threshold under which Milak has been 4 times in his career. His outing tonight is encouraging for the swimmer who has been in and out of the water due to physical and mental issues.

As for Hosszu, although she captured the top seed in the 200m IM (2:16.58), the 34-year-old new mom fell to 4th when the medals were on the line this evening.

Taking the 200m IM title was Dalma Sebestyen with the 27-year-old notching 2:13.75. She out-touched Boglarka Kapas who hit 2:13.94 while Italy’s Francesca Fresia snagged bronze in 2:14.52.

Hosszu wound up 4th in 2:15.50, knocking about a second off her morning outing in her first official meet back since the 2022 European Championships.

21-year-old Gabor Zombori posted the fastest 200m IM swim of his career en route to capturing gold.

Zombori stopped the clock in 1:57.88, sneaking under the World Aquatics Olympic Qualification Time of 1:57.94 in the process.

The 2019 world junior champion in the 400m free split 25.45/30.08/33.93/28.42 tonight to beat the field by over a second. Runner-up status went to Dominik Torok in 1:59.12 and bronze went to Balasz Hollo in 1:59.77.

Zombori’s personal best entering this competition rested at the 1:58.94 he established at this meet last year. He now ranks 15th in the world on the season.

Additional Notes

  • 5-time World Junior Championships gold medalist Nikolett Padar also dove in during tonight’s finals, taking on the women’s 100m free. The 18-year-old first touched in 54.41 in the heats to establish a new personal best. That overtook the 54.69 logged for European Junior Championships gold in 2022. Tonight she added slightly, producing 54.64 as the gold medalist. She still has a way to go to clear the Olympic QT of 53.61.
  • A trio of Austrians monopolized the men’s 100m breast podium. Bernhard Reitshammer hit 1:00.29 over Valentin Bayer and Christopher Rothbauer. Bayer posted 1:01.08 and Rothbauer registered 1:01.62.
  • Henrietta Fangli, who represents Romania internationally, topped the women’s 100m breast in a time of 1:07.50. That’s a big-time personal best, overwriting the 1:09.25 turned in this same time last year. Here, she split 32.30/32.20 to make it happen for gold and establish a new national record.
  • Adam Jaszo won the men’s 50m back in 25.30 while Lora Fanni Komoroczy clocked 28.31 in the women’s race.
  • The men’s 1500m free saw David Betlehem get on the board with 14:54.12, the 3rd-fastest time of his career.

Qualification Information

It’s important to note that these Hungarian National Championships are not the sole qualifying opportunity for the country’s athletes. Swimmers can nab qualifying times at approved competitions through the March 1, 2023 – June 23, 2024 window.

Hungarian Athletes Who Have Notched World Aquatics Olympic Qualification Times Since March 1, 2023

Men

  • 50m free – Szebasztian Szabo (21.89, 2023 Helsinki Swim Meet)
  • 100m free – Nandor Nemeth (47.78, 2024 World Championships)
  • 400m free – Kristof Rasovszky (3:46.77, 2024 World Championships)
  • 800m free – Kristof Rasovszky (7:44.42, 2024 World Championships), David Betlehem (7:48.06, 2024 World Championships)
  • 1500m free – David Betlehem (14:46.44, 2024 World Championships), Kristof Rasovszky (14.59.44, 2024 World Championships)
  • 100m back – Hubert Kos (53.19, 2023 U.S. Open)
  • 200m back – Hubert Kos (1:55.95, 2024 World Championships), Adam Telegdy (1:56.65, 2024 World Championships)
  • 100m fly – Kristof Milak (50.80, 2023 Hungarian Nationals), Hubert Kos (51.59, 2023 U.S. Open)
  • 200m fly – Kristof Milak (1:52.58, 2023 Hungarian Nationals), Richard Marton (1:55.76, 2024 World Championships)
  • 200m IM – Hubert Kos (1:57.88, 2023 U.S. Open), Gabor Zombori (1:57.88, 2024 Hungarian Nationals)

Women

  • 200m back – Eszter Szabo-Feltothy (2:09.42, 2024 World Championships), Dora Molnar (2:10.31, 2024 World Championships)

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snailSpace
7 months ago

22.29 for Milak in the 50 free heats. Not bad after a 200 fly, looked really smooth, and it really does look like his freestyle technique has cleaned up a lot.

John26
Reply to  snailSpace
7 months ago

Why is he swimming the 50free? 😵

snailSpace
Reply to  John26
7 months ago

He always does at nationals. I think it’s because he wants a sub 22 time, and another national title. Hungarians usually enter a lot of off events at nationals to branch out a bit; Rasovszky for example, who is a distance/open water swimmer, has swum the 100 free yesterday.

Last edited 7 months ago by snailSpace
Brownish
Reply to  snailSpace
6 months ago

And won the 100 4th time in a row against Nemeth (who was 3rd at the Worlds) at the Nationals and the NR holder in 100 free.

Brownish
Reply to  snailSpace
6 months ago

Definitely, we’ve spoken about it at home.

snailSpace
7 months ago

Milak 1:55.43 in 200 fly heats.

e-Swimmer77
Reply to  snailSpace
7 months ago

I’m so glad to see him back in the water. What a butterfly freak! Gold in Paris is not given away to Leon, anyone who wants it has to go past Kristof.

Brownish
Reply to  snailSpace
6 months ago

We don’t know who you are but you’re kindly invited to forum.index.hu úszás topic. And of course all the other Magyars and guys who’re interested in. E.g. MZ/X, etc.

snailSpace
Reply to  Brownish
6 months ago

I had no idea that existed, but thanks for the invite!

Isthy
Reply to  snailSpace
6 months ago

Hi! We look forward to seeing you!

snailSpace
Reply to  Isthy
6 months ago

Köszi! 😀

DK99
Reply to  snailSpace
6 months ago

How did he look?

snailSpace
Reply to  DK99
6 months ago

Pretty smooth. Long on the first and third wall. I think it could be anywhere from 1:52 to 1:54 in finals.

Troyy
7 months ago

Congrats on a successful return to racing Milak 👏

If both Dressel and Milak are close to their best the 100 fly it’s gonna be the best race of the Olympics.

Just Keep Swimming
Reply to  Troyy
7 months ago

What do we think contenders are? Both 100 free? Both 100 fly? Both 400 free? Men’s 800?

Brownish
Reply to  Troyy
7 months ago

One of them.

saltie
7 months ago

so many people (including myself more or less) doubted the return of Dressel, Peaty, and Milak. Well, looks like we’re eating our words, those three won’t get knocked down so easily, I guess.

Not that I’m complaining about being wrong though, I can’t wait to see all three in Paris defending their titles.

Just Keep Swimming
Reply to  saltie
7 months ago

I will admit I doubted all 3 of them. Peaty has definitely shown he is back. The other 2 are on their way but not fully proven yet.

Brownish
Reply to  Just Keep Swimming
7 months ago

Perhaps today Milak.

DD99
7 months ago

Some rumours going on in Hungarian media is that Milak was training in Brisbane last September-October with Dean Boxall. Not sure how much truth there’s to it, we’ll see if more info will come out about it.

Brownish
Reply to  DD99
7 months ago

Somewhere sure. You can’t swim 48.3 without it. An his free has changed a lot, too.

oxyswim
Reply to  DD99
7 months ago

Not sure why Dean would have taken him on. He plays everything super close to the vest and definitely has an Australia first approach. I guess Milak doesn’t have event overlap with the top SPW guys, and there’s appeal to working with the best in the world, just feels counter to Dean’s approach.

John26
Reply to  oxyswim
7 months ago

I mean Eve Thomas trains with him. But I also find it weird something like this doesn’t get out considering reports of Milak not training at all

snailSpace
Reply to  John26
7 months ago

Technically, the reports were of him dropping off the face of the Earth, not not training. But yeah, it would have gotten out by now I think, and it seems too fantastical to be real anyway.
His freestyle technique did change somewhat though.

John26
Reply to  snailSpace
7 months ago

Right, I thought so too. His freestyle used to have this really jerky feel that did not feel very smooth, it looks much smoother in today’s race. If he was “barely” back, it would seem strange he’s made what seems like improvements in his weaker event… improvements that don’t feel they’d be worth it if he wasn’t focused on at least swimming more freestyle

Just Keep Swimming
Reply to  DD99
7 months ago

There’s just no way that this happened without anyone realising.

Brownish
Reply to  Just Keep Swimming
7 months ago

But it would be suspicious if first time at home he went his car’s right front door and/or pronounces places like [Harvi Bai] or e.g. [Maribara] 😉

Beginner Swimmer at 25
Reply to  DD99
7 months ago

If that’s true, or maybe he was hidden training with another coach, that is a big F U to the Hungarian Swimming federation, weird how the Hungarian coaches were publicly calling him out as if he disappeared, I think Hungary tried to put a tight leash on him and dictate his schedule

Last edited 7 months ago by Beginner Swimmer at 25
Stewart Fenwick
Reply to  Beginner Swimmer at 25
6 months ago

Hungarian Swimming Federation is a bunch of jerks who don’t care about Milak but their own interests.

Brownish
Reply to  Stewart Fenwick
6 months ago

Why? And the others?

rhode
Reply to  DD99
7 months ago

Boxall’s group held a training camp in Thailand earlier last year. The Hungarian team were there as well. Maybe they got in touch during that period?

Brownish
Reply to  rhode
6 months ago

Somebody had to arrange this.

big fella
7 months ago

im calling 50.8-51.2 in the 100 fly and 1:54 in the 2

Rafael
Reply to  big fella
7 months ago

Milak can drop a 1:52 1:53 as child play

Big fella
Reply to  Rafael
6 months ago

1 for 2 so far

snailSpace
Reply to  big fella
7 months ago

I think that’s gonna be spot on for the 200 fly. After this 100 free, he might drop something slightly faster than 50.8 in the 100.

big fella
Reply to  snailSpace
7 months ago

I would agree but 200 fly is tomorrow, so 100 fly is going to come after 4 hard swims, which weighs on you more the less conditioned you are

snailSpace
7 months ago

I’m cautiously optimistic. A 200 fly is much more demanding than a 100 free though, so we will see tomorrow if he’s really back.

Lisa
Reply to  snailSpace
7 months ago

Yeah but 200 fly is his best events and if he indeed is back then he’s probably a slight favorite.

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Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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