Paris Olympics, Day 7 Semifinals: Kristof Milak on Mission for Gold in 100 Butterfly

Paris Olympics, Day 7 Semifinals: Kristof Milak on Mission for Gold in 100 Butterfly

If Kristof Milak was trying to hide his disappointment following the final of the 200-meter butterfly earlier in the week at the Olympic Games, the Hungarian did a poor job. Following a silver-medal finish, there was a sense of anger on Milak’s face. As the defending champion, Milak was clearly displeased with his inability to repeat as champion.

Perhaps, though, that outcome will serve as motivation.

Behind a time of 50.38, Milak posted the fastest time in the semifinals of the 100 butterfly at La Defense Arena on Friday night. Despite a poor finish, the Tokyo silver medalist will be the man to beat in the final. Milak qualified just ahead of Frenchman Maxime Grousset (50.41) and Canadian Josh Liendo (50.42), who went one-two in the first semifinal.

Milak was faster in the preliminaries, where he clocked 50.19. In both of his races, the 24-year-old has pressed the pace on the opening lap and has held on for victory. Look for Milak to employ the same strategy in the final and, with a cleaned-up finish, a sub-50 clocking is possible. Milak will be the only athlete in the final to have cracked the 50-second barrier, accomplishing the feat with a European record of 49.68 at the Tokyo Games.

Grousset and Liendo will certainly bring challenges to Milak. At the 2023 World Championships, Grousset was the gold medalist, with Liendo picking up silver. Grousset will have the home crowd on his side on Saturday night, as the French have boisterously supported their athletes throughout action in Paris.

The Netherlands’ Nyls Korstanje (50.59) and Switzerland’s Noe Ponti (50.60) were separated by the smallest of margins in fourth and fifth while Canada’s Ilya Kharun was sixth in 50.68. Completing the field for the final were Aussie Matt Temple (50.95) and Japan’s Naoki Mizunuma (51.08). Ponti was the bronze medalist in Tokyo.

Defending champion Caeleb Dressel of the United States failed to advance to the final following an effort of 51.57. That time was only fifth in his semifinal and 13th overall, and was .74 slower than what the American managed during the morning prelims. More, Dressel was more than two seconds slower than his world record of 49.45, which he set at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

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