Kristóf Milák: I've set the bar much higher than anyone else

– Two gold medals at the European Championships in Budapest. Excellent times in both 100 and 200 butterfly. Are you satisfied?
– Both results are satisfactory.

– Satisfactory?!
– If we were at the Olympics talking with two gold medals in my hands, I wouldn't use that word. So, yes. It's the best I've been able to do in my current state. By the way, it was my first European Championship where I had a good time.

– Let's stick to the time results a little more: you broke the 100 fly national record. Is this how you rate your swim satisfactory?
– That's how much I can do right now. I knew before the start of the European Championships that I'm capable of this much. If you had asked me in advance, I would've expected 50.2 or 50.3 seconds. It turned out to be 50.18 which is absolutely fine. For now.

– In the semifinals of the 100 fly, you complained that you'd ruined both of your encounters with the wall. Was everything good in the finale?
– Oh, in that respect, everything was great finally. I was prepared for it, and I was smart enough that the walls wouldn't screw me over this time... Of course, I made some mistakes, there's no perfect swimming, but I dare say that this final swim was almost 100% – that I started the European Championships right after the preparation training period and that the 100 butterfly final was a week after competing began. I was also tired, so I really can't be dissatisfied. If I look around the world at 100, there's a good chance I'll only have to catch one more person...

– Has Caeleb Dressel been annoying you since the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, where the American classic won the 100 butterfly?
– He isn't annoying me, but I'm very curious how his preparation is progressing and what condition he's in.

– That doesn't mean anything! I might as well win the Olympics in 100 because I was faster in Budapest.

– But you're going to win it – the 100 as well!
– Let's not say it out loud. We'll see what happens in Tokyo.

– After the 200 butterfly, you said that even if you wake up from your dreams, you would still be able to get a 1:51 result.
– That's right, I was telling the truth.

– Can you do it on 100 as well?
– I think so, but God forbid that you'll wake up tomorrow night to head to the swimming pool for a 100 butterfly! I can't do that right now, but, yes, my goal is to get to the level of what I've achieved on 200 only because I have to go under 50 seconds — even if all else fails. I'm not sure one can win the Olympics with 50 seconds. I'm sure no one can. I'd say the 100 butterfly winner in Tokyo has to swim a time in the low forty-nines.

– I'm not saying I'll swim this time at the Olympics, but I'll do everything I can to do well on 100, too.

– Your first world competition in Budapest was where you swam in many events.
– But I didn't finish all of them... I changed the schedule a little bit on the way, but it really was my first European Championship like that. I've done it before at the national championships, but it's the first time I've tried it on the continental level. My goal is to swim in many events at the World Championships. That's how I feel well.

– Are you looking for a change? Or more medals, even more success, and more glory? Because you're not looking for more meters, that's for sure.
– Oh, I never wanted that! I just feel a lot better when the events come one after the other, and I can swim times back-to-back to which I can say, ‘Bravo!' It makes me feel good; that's why I really enjoy competing because it's clear that I feel good during competitions and not training... I'm taking on more and more events because they meet my desires, I feel like I'm productive, I'm swimming well.

– Lot of people say that 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle are more compatible in many ways. Do you have goals in this distance as well?
– The suggestion is true, but one also needs speed, and I don't have that – yet.

– In the Duna Aréna, you swam a good time in 200 freestyle and finished fifth.
– Yes, 1:45 is a good result globally as well, but this can be enhanced.

– Even more? Will Kristóf Milák become a backstroke swimmer?
– I don't know what I will be next year or later. I'm going to add events in my repertoire that I have the best chance in and feel at home the most with.

– We can rule out the medley event because years ago you said you're not a good swimmer in breaststroke.
– I'd rather not say anything because otherwise it'll be demanded.

– Two months left until Tokyo. Do you think about the Olympics more often?
– Yes, I've been thinking about it more and more lately. I'm also interested in what will happen in Tokyo.

– Everyone expects a gold from you on 200 butterfly. How do you exclude these expectations? How can you focus on preparation only?
– Only the expectations for myself are important, and I will tell you, I've set the bar much higher than anyone else. So, it's enough to pay attention to that, to fight my little demons. I don't mind fighting myself, because that's the only thing that keeps me going.

– Is Tokyo all about ranking only? If you have the gold around your neck but don't swim a good time, will you be able to smile?
– I won't be sad if that happens - if I don't win with a world record. That's all I'm going to say right now, and I'm going to keep the rest to myself.

Translated by Vanda Orosz