Kristof Milak’s Commitment to LA 2028 Amid Club Ultimatum Sparks Debate
Hungarian world-record holder Kristof Milak has reportedly affirmed his plan to train for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, following sensational reports that his club, Budapest Honved, delivered an ultimatum demanding he return to in-pool training.
Milak’s last competition was the 2025 Hungarian National Championships, where he clinched the national title in the 100 free and 200 fly and placed runner-up in the 50 and 100 fly events, earning his spot for the 2025 World Championships in Singapore. However, he subsequently withdrew from Worlds due to concerns about training consistency and motivation, a move attributed to his coach Almos Szabo. This withdrawal marked Milak’s third absence from a long-course World Championship, with prior nonentries in 2023 and 2024 (Fukuoka and Doha).
Over the past week, Hungarian media reported that Budapest Honved, a prominent multi-sport club that reportedly pays Milak a substantial salary, presented him with a decisive choice: resume regular in-water training—allegedly absent for the past 16 months—or lose club support.
Additional reports touched on potential consequences for Milak’s funding, noting that the Hungarian Swimming Federation was weighing the possible withdrawal of the Gerevich Scholarship (the Stipendium Hungaricum Sports scholarship), which would amount to roughly 500,000 Hungarian forints per month (about $1,500 USD).
Istvan Gergely, Executive Chairman of Budapest Honved and a two-time Olympic gold medalist in water polo (2004, 2008), publicly commented that Milak’s training had effectively ceased in the pool, with Milak reportedly focusing on dry-land work with well-known fitness coach Gyorgy Zala. Gergely warned that the clock is ticking and the ongoing “pull and release” approach cannot continue, while adding that a definitive decision about continuing funding remained pending. He expressed optimism that Milak would eventually return to the pool but emphasized that faith alone would not suffice—progress and sustained effort were essential.
Milak’s training irregularities stretch back to 2022, including a withdrawal from the 2023 World Championships due to mental health concerns. Subsequent years have carried persistent reports of inconsistent preparation. Despite these struggles, Milak still delivered medals at the 2024 Olympic Games—gold in the 100 fly and silver in the 200 fly—demonstrating his enduring competitive capability even amid training challenges.
Recent developments came as Hungarian officials and World Aquatics announced dates for the 2027 World Championships to be held in Budapest. The event will take place at the new MVM Dome, a multi-sport venue, rather than the Duna Arena. In a press briefing, Sándor Wladár, president of the Hungarian Swimming Association, flagged several top Hungarian swimmers likely to compete in 2027, including Hubert Kos, David Betlehem, and Zalan Sarkany.
During media questions about Milak, State Secretary for Sports Adam Schmidt disclosed that he had met with Milak roughly two and a half weeks prior, noting that Milak expressed a desire to end his swimming career with dignity. Schmidt added that he had proposed a national championship in Nyíregyháza as a possible platform, but Milak dismissed the idea and remained focused on Los Angeles. Schmidt stated he believed Milak knows his own capabilities and that Hungary expects him to start in Los Angeles if he can perform at the necessary level.
Note: All quotes have been translated from Hungarian.
In This Story
- Kristof Milak
- Milak’s career context
