Kristóf Milák Returns to Competition in Five Events at National Championships

Hungarian world-record holder Kristof Milak has affirmed his intention to train for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics following a period of significant instability regarding his training and competitive schedule.

The commitment comes amid reports that his club, Budapest Honved, issued an ultimatum requiring the swimmer to return to regular in-pool training or risk losing the club’s support.

Club Ultimatum and Funding Concerns

Budapest Honved, a multi-sport organization that pays Milak a substantial salary, reportedly demanded he resume in-water training after he had allegedly been absent from the pool for 16 months.

Istvan Gergely, the Executive Chairman of Budapest Honved and a two-time Olympic gold medalist in water polo, stated that Milak’s training in the pool had effectively ceased.

Gergely noted that Milak had been focusing on dry-land work with fitness coach Gyorgy Zala, warning that the current pull and release approach to his training cannot continue.

The situation extends beyond club support, as the Hungarian Swimming Federation has reportedly considered withdrawing the Gerevich Scholarship (the Stipendium Hungaricum Sports scholarship). This funding would amount to approximately 500,000 Hungarian forints per month, or about $1,500 USD.

Competitive History and Recent Withdrawals

Milak’s recent competitive trajectory has been marked by several high-profile absences. His most recent appearance was at the 2025 Hungarian National Championships, where he won national titles in the 100 free and 200 fly, and finished as the runner-up in the 50 and 100 fly events.

Despite qualifying for the 2025 World Championships in Singapore during the national championships, Milak subsequently withdrew from the event. This decision was attributed to his coach, Almos Szabo, who cited concerns regarding motivation and training consistency.

This withdrawal marked the third consecutive long-course World Championship Milak has missed, following non-entries in 2023 and 2024, specifically the events in Fukuoka and Doha.

Training Patterns and Previous Returns

The swimmer’s relationship with pool training has been inconsistent over the last several years. In April 2024, Milak returned to action at the Hungarian National Championships after a year of absence, where he won five gold medals and one silver, though he remained far from his personal bests.

Prior to that 2024 appearance, Milak had declared a need for rest and missed the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka. While he began training again in September 2023, he eventually moved away from pool work once more to focus on strength and conditioning with Gyorgy Zala.

Reports indicated that Milak returned to pool training in the final week of February 2024, with coach Balazs Virth noting at the time that the swimmer was in better shape than expected.

Looking Toward 2028

Despite the friction with Budapest Honved and the Hungarian Swimming Federation regarding his training habits, Milak’s focus has shifted toward the long term.

The world-record holder has now affirmed his plan to prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, though the finality of his funding and club support remains pending a definitive decision by the organization’s leadership.