Milák Kristóf had a low point, but returned to himself, according to his former coach

Hungarian swimmer Kristóf Milák is poised to make his return to the international stage at the European Championships in Paris, marking his first major competition since the 2024 Olympic Games. This event holds significance as it signifies his comeback after a period of uncertainty regarding his swimming career.

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There was a deep low after the 2024 Olympics, when there was a fear that he would give up swimming entirely.

According to his former coach, Attila Selmeci, Milák experienced a "deep low" following the 2024 Olympics, leading to concerns that he might abandon the sport entirely. However, Selmeci notes a positive shift since January of this year, with Milák resuming training, attending training camps, and achieving strong results in competitions throughout the spring. Selmeci expressed optimism, stating, "It seems Kristóf has returned to himself."

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It seems that Kristóf has returned to himself.

Milák's career took an unpredictable turn in 2023 when he unexpectedly withdrew from the World Championships in Fukuoka. He also skipped the 2024 World Championships in Doha and the 2025 World Championships in Singapore. While he has achieved significant results, including an Olympic gold medal in the 100m butterfly and a silver in the 200m butterfly at the Paris Olympics, his dominance in the 200m, where he was previously undefeated, was challenged by Léon Marchand.

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Athletes like him, born to win, do not like to lose.

Selmeci believes that the defeat in the 200m butterfly still lingers, as athletes accustomed to winning dislike losing. However, he suggests this is not the primary reason for Milák's recent focus on shorter distances. Although Milák participated in the 200m butterfly at the Hungarian Championships in April under coach Álmos Szabó, he withdrew from the final after posting times around two minutes. Since then, he has not competed in the event. In contrast, he has excelled in the 50m and 100m butterfly events, achieving international success. Leading up to the European Championships, he topped the world rankings in the 100m butterfly and held the national record in the 50m butterfly. Selmeci also commented that it is common for swimmers to shift towards shorter distances as they mature, and the 50m butterfly presents a new opportunity, especially as it will be an Olympic event in Los Angeles.

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It is common for swimmers to turn towards shorter distances as they get older.