The world’s most successful swimmer, Michael Phelps, also congratulated Kristóf Milák after the young Hungarian talent broke the American legend’s almost 10 year-old record on Wednesday at the 18th FINA World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.
Kristóf Milák Wins 200 Fly Gold with Astounding World Record
Phelps, who won the event in three Olympic games, broke the world record seven times and has held it since 2001, told New York Times that “as frustrated as I am to see that record go down, I couldn’t be happier to see how he did it (…) “That kid’s last 100 was incredible. He put together a great 200 fly from start to finish.”
He also said about Milák that “it happened because there was a kid who wanted to do it, who dreamed of doing it, who figured out what it would take to do it, who worked on his technique until it was beautiful and who put in the really, really hard work that it takes to do it,” concluding that “my hat’s off to him.” NYT also noted that Milák was only 13 months old when Phelps set his first world record in the 200-meter butterfly.
A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon
In addition, 3 time Olympic champion Katinka Hosszú also joined Phelps, saying: “I simply couldn’t find the words, he wrote history. It was very exciting to cheer for my compatriot for the world record, who, by the way, I train together with every day at the Duna Aréna. Also, it is a huge motivation for me, I want to be in his place again,” she concluded.
featured image via MTI/Tamás Kovács