Kristof Milak won the men’s 100m butterfly on Saturday to claim his second swimming gold of the Paris Games and defend his pre-race favourite.
The mysterious Hungarian left the arena without speaking to the media, skipping the mandatory press conference for the medal winners and not saying a word to his national television station.
It was his second Olympic gold after his 200 track triumph in Tokyo.
Josh Liendo pushed the Hungarian hard to take silver, while Canada’s Ilya Kharun claimed bronze.
Milak was a silver medalist in the event in Tokyo and this week also won silver in the 200 meters behind Leon Marchand.
Nyls Korstanje of the Netherlands made a quick start and led at the corner before Liendo took the lead and looked in with a chance of a shock win.
However, Milak had some fuel left in the tank and rode the final 25 meters to take the gold.
Earlier this year there were doubts over Milak’s form and reports that he wasn’t sticking to the training schedule set for him, but he found his speed when it mattered.
Hungarian national team coach Csaba Sos acknowledged the problems that existed with Milak, but said it was time to move on.
“Everyone was relieved, obviously he too. He followed a unique path, there are obviously question marks. We also had a lot of question marks, but that’s history, one gold, one silver,” he said.
It was the second time this week that Hungarians celebrated at La Defense Arena after Hubert Kos won gold in the 200m breaststroke.
Liendo was frustrated that he had gotten so close to the surprise gold.
“I knew how close I was and I wanted the gold for sure. I just didn’t get it. 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. I wanted this. I knew in the 100 fly that the competition was so crazy that the top three was a dream. I’m so glad I got it. When I touched the wall, I couldn’t believe it,” he said. Switzerland’s Noe Ponti, the 100m bronze medalist in Tokyo, finished fourth and home favorite Maxime Grousset fifth.
