Kristóf Milák finished first place in the men’s 200-meter butterfly, with the second fastest time in history, at the European Aquatics Championships in Budapest. This is the second gold for Hungary in this year’s European Championship, after Katinka Hosszú finished first with a time of 4:34.76 in the women’s 400-meter IM.
Wednesday marked the third day of the European Aquatics Championships in Budapest. From the beginning of the 200-meter butterfly, it was clear that Kristóf Milák was ahead.
For one hundred meters or so he was tailed by the Italian Federico Burdisso, maintaining a lead of seven hundredths of a second, but upon the third turn Milák gained more than a second-long lead, racing against his former record.
Kristóf Milák in the finals of the 200-meter butterfly at the European Aquatics Championship in Budapest. (Photo: Tamás Kovács/MTI)
He finished far ahead of the other competitors, with a time of 1:51.10, just shy of the 1:50.73 world record he set in 2019. His time is also faster than the legendary Michael Phelps’ 1:51.51.
Tamás Kenderesi, who swam the best time in Tuesday’s semifinals in the same race, had said that he did not believe he could beat Milák’s time. The two compatriots have been in close competition with one another, with Kenderesi finishing in second after Milák’s win in Glasgow in 2018.
This year the Hungarians were able to finish with exceptional times once again, with Kenderesi coming in third with a time of 1:54.43, just short of, in second place, Federico Burdisso’s time of 1:54.28.
Tamás Kenderesi in the men’s 200-meter butterfly at the European Aquatics Championship in Budapest. (Photo:Tamás Kovács)
This is the second Hungarian gold metal at the European Championships, after Katinka Hosszú finished first in the 400-meter individual medley, regaining her European title with her fourth gold medal of the event. She finished with a time of 4:34.76, placing her in second place in the world.
Katinka’s teammate, Viktória Mihályvári-Farkas, won silver in the same event, tied with Great Britain’s Aimee Willmott at 4:36.81.
With such an excellent roster of swimmers, Hungary has much to look forward to for the next Olympics.
In the Featured photo, Milák Kristóf after the announcement of results for the men’s 200 meter butterfly at the Budapest Aquatics European Championship in the Duna Arena on May 19, 2021. Featured photo via Tamás Kovács/MTI
