Paris 2024 Olympics: Hungarian Kristof Milak roars home for men’s 100m butterfly gold

Three years after claiming the 200m gold at Tokyo, the 24-year-old secured the shorter of the two Olympic butterfly titles by touching the wall in 49.90, 0.09 seconds ahead of Canadian runner-up Josh Liendo.

Gold Medalist Kristof Milak of Team Hungary (C), Silver Medalist Josh Liendo of Team Canada (L) and Bronze Medalist Ilya Kharun of Team Canada (R) stand on the podium during the Swimming medal ceremony after the Men’s 100m Butterfly Final. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Kristof Milak powered to victory in the men’s 100m butterfly on Saturday to win his country’s second swimming gold of the Paris Games and justify his tag as pre-race favourite.

The enigmatic Hungarian left the arena without speaking to the media, skipping the compulsory medal winners’ press conference and not even providing words to his national television station.

It was his second Olympic gold following his triumph in the 200 fly in Tokyo.

Josh Liendo pushed the Hungarian hard and took silver while fellow Canadian Ilya Kharun claimed bronze.

Milak was a silver medallist in this event in Tokyo and also took silver in the 200m fly behind Leon Marchand this week.

Nyls Korstanje of the Netherlands burst away fast and led at the turn before Liendo surged into the lead and looked in with a chance of a shock victory.

Milak though had some fuel left in the tank and produced a blistering final 25 metres to clinch gold.

There had been doubts about Milak’s form earlier this year and reports that he had not been sticking to the training plan laid out for him, but he found his speed when it mattered.

Hungarian national team coach Csaba Sos acknowledged the issues that had existed with Milak but said it was time to move on.

“Everyone was relieved, obviously he was too. He followed a unique path, there are obviously question marks. We also had plenty of question marks, but this is now history, one gold, one silver,” he said.

It was the second time this week that the Hungarians have been celebrating at La Defense Arena after Hubert Kos took gold in the 200m backstroke.

Hungary’s Kristof Milak competes in the final of the men’s 100m butterfly swimming event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. | Photo Credit: AFP

Liendo was frustrated that he got so close to a surprise gold.

“I knew how close I was and I wanted the gold for sure. I just didn’t have it on the touch. I didn’t time that finish well, but it’s good to get on (the podium),” he said.

Kharun was delighted with his bronze.

“It means a lot. This is what I wanted. I knew in the 100 fly that the competition was so crazy that top three was a dream. I’m so glad I got it. I was in disbelief when I touched the wall,” he said.

Switzerland’s Noe Ponti, the 100m fly bronze medal winner in Tokyo, finished fourth with home favourite Maxime Grousset fifth.