Kristof Milak Soars To 1:52.58 In 200 Fly At Hungarian Championships In Kaposvár; Returns For 50 Free Silver

MILAK Kristof HUN 200m Butterfly Men Semifinal Swimming FINA 19th World Championships Budapest 2022 Budapest, Duna Arena 20/06/22 Photo Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Kristof Milak: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Kristof Milak Soars To 1:52.58 In 200 Fly At Hungarian Championships In Kaposvár; Returns To Take 50 Free Silver

Kristof Milak went 1:52.58 in the 200 fly at the Hungarian Championships in Kaposvár – a time only he, Michael Phelps and Daiya Seto have bettered.

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It was the 10th-fastest swim of the Olympic and world champion’s career topped by his 1:50.34 world record from the 2022 World Championships in Budapest and the 14th fastest in history.

He holds the five fastest times in history ahead of Phelps’ best performance of 1:51.51 from the 2009 worlds with Seto the only other man to have gone inside Milak’s time in Kaposvár, the Japanese swimmer with a best of 1:52.53 from the FINA Champions Swim Series in January 2020.

kristof-milak-200-fly-gold-world-record-2022-world-championships-budapest-podium

Kristof Milak: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

The 23-year-old now leads this year’s world rankings by almost two seconds having displaced Ilya Kharun, who had led the way with 1:54.49.

Splits: 25.13/54.00 (28.87)/1:23.14 (29.14)/1:52.58 (29.44)

Richard Marton was second in 1:55.62 with Dominik Torok third in 1:59.63.

It was Milak’s 12th journey inside 1:53, a voyage made by only five men other than the Hungarian in the shape of Phelps – on five occasions – László Cseh (twice), Chad Le Clos, Seto and Takeshi Matsuda – the quintet achieving it a total of 10 times between them.

Milak is now also looking to focus on the 100 and 200 free and the challenge that would await in the form of David Popovici.

There are parallels between the two – both young men who have taken their events into new realms with Popovici in all likelihood set to be the first inside 1:42 in the 200 free.

Milak was 19 when he set his first WR of 1:50.73 at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju with Popovici 17 when he took down the 100 free at last year’s Europeans in 46.86, one place ahead of the Hungarian who set a national record of 47.47.

He said:

“I felt that it was a good rhythmic, easy swim, without tension, and the time was roughly right, so I am satisfied.

“Now, anyway, we did a slightly different type of work in the training camp, more focus was placed on the 100-200 sprints, because I want to progress there as well.”

Milak will head to the World Championships in Fukuoka having never been beaten over four lengths in a senior international long-course pool.

Tamas Kenderesi beat him at Hungarian Nationals in December 2020 when Milak was still recovering from covid-19.

It followed his 48.40 victory in the 100 free on the opening day of the meet in Kaposvár on Wednesday and he returned on Thursday shortly after his 200 fly to finish second in the 50 free.

Szebasztián Szabo was the only man inside 22secs in 21.82 with Milak clocking 22.06 and Nikola Miljenic in 22.29.

Senánszky AT The Double: Leaves Finswimming Behind

Petra Senánszky won the women’s 50 free in 24.97 with a huge 1.06sec margin of victory over Evelyn Verraszto (26.03) and Lilla Minna Abraham (26.20).

It was Senánszky’s second gold of the meet following her 100 free gold on Wednesday in 54.43.

The 29-year-old is now focused on pool swimming after years of competing in finswimming in which she won five golds at the World Games in the 50 and 100 bi-fins and 4×50 obstacle.

KAPAS Boglarka HUN 200m Butterfly Women Swimming Budapest - Hungary 20/5/2021 Duna Arena XXXV LEN European Aquatic Championships Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Boglarka Kapas: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Boglárka Kapás won the women’s 200 fly in 2:08.86 ahead of Dalma Sebastyen (2:09.70) and Zsuzsanna Jakabos (2:10.67).

Benedek Bendegúz Kovács was 0.27 outside Laszlo Cseh’s Hungarian 100 back record in 53.67 ahead of Ádám Jaszo (54.18) and Richárd Bohus (54.42).

Kovacs also won the 50 back on the opening day in 25.20.

Cseh’s national mark of 53.40 has stood since the 2012 Olympics in London and Kovács‘ time elevates him to third-fastest in Hungarian history behind Bohus and his 53.51 in Tokyo.

Kristóf Rasovszky added the 400 free to his 1500 victory on the opening day in 3:47.33 ahead of Balázs Hollo (3:48.15) and Dávid Betlehem (3:48.33).

Ajna Kesely won the women’s 400 in 4:06.35 with Bettina Fabian (4:08.26) and Nikolett Padar (4:11.23) next home.

On Wednesday, Gábor Zombori booked his ticket to Fukuoka with a 1:58.94 effort in the 200IM.

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Oliver

11 months ago

The man is a beast and one of the greatest Talents this sport has ever seen.
Hopefully we’ll see a 1:49 in Fukuoka or Paris.