World Record Holder Kristof Milak Talks Olympics, Focus & Luca Urlando

Kristof Milak of Hungary stunned everyone when he smashed American icon Michael Phelps’ 200m fly mark of 1:51.51 to establish a new World Record of 1:50.73 en route to World Championships gold last year.

The teen had been on the rise for some time, setting the World Junior Record at 1:52.71 in 2018. But the fact he beat the fastest ever in the event, by well over half a second to boot, was really quite spectacular.

Now a 20-year-old, Olympic gold is on Milak’s mind, with the Hungarian wanting to follow-up his breakthrough performance with that coveted shiny medal this summer in Tokyo.

While at a training camp in Thailand, Milak spoke with news outlet Index on what he’s been doing to prepare for this summer’s highly-anticipated Olympics. The fly specialist who also can throw down solid freestyle and backstroke performances has typically trained on his own but has been mixing it up with Bence Biczo and Richard Marton.

“[Training alone] had its advantages,” Milak said. “I was concentrating only on myself. But swimming in a team also has its advantages and I am happy that I can swim with them. I like it that way; they do not let me relax, as we’re competitive.”

Also among the subjects of conversation are who Milak has his eye on in terms of competition for the 200 fly, including Japan’s on-fire Daiya Seto. “Seto has swum a time of 1:52.53 in January; no one had done a time like that this early in the season before.”

Milak also speaks to American Luca Urlando, as well as countrymen Laszlo Cseh and Tamas Kenderesi.

“Gianluca is even younger than I am and will put on a show this year.”

“World Records are so precious because they are so hard to do again. If we were at home, I’d be training next to Katinka [Hosszu] and see how hard she has to work to stay on top.

“My other hero, Michael Phelps, needed 3 years to get to a new personal best. After 2003, he was only chasing himself until 2006.”

The man reveals how he is hoping to shave tenths of seconds off of his time by focusing on the mechanics of his turns. “I can save time on my turns and start. I still have room for improvement.

“I do not have issues with reaching the wall and getting back to speed or dolphin kicks, but no one taught me how to turn properly. Strange to say it after a World Record, but I still have the feeling I sometimes die at the turns.”

Other events besides the 200m fly are under consideration for the talented Milak, although he says that he is keeping it a secret for now and, when the time is right, ‘everyone will know.’

In the meantime, as well as dealing with pressure in the pool, Milak is contending with a type of fame he had never experienced. “I feel like my life has been changed. I have been invited to events I never would have been invited to before. I see myself on posters and this is really an unusual feeling.

“This is why I really need to be smart now.”

You can read the interview in its entirety, in Hungarian, here.

Translation assistance provided by Eszter Domokos.