Tokyo 2020: I have the first one. Shall come the next one, the next one, the next one and so on – Milák

– It's torn... –Kristóf Milák stepped into the mixed zone with his ripped swimsuit.

– What happened?
– There was an unexpected incident. I learned that anything could happen in keen situations, and it's worth preparing for it. Although I don't know how to prepare for this... So, what happened was my swimsuit tore in front of the last call room. Well, no, that's where I noticed I didn't have my accreditation card, and when I ran back to get it, my suit tore. So, I went to the last call room with two trunks, and I changed there.

– Was it the reason that you were more tense during the entry, start and actually all the way through the 200m butterfly?
– Yes.

– Is such a mishap that annoying?
– It's an influencing factor, it's a clear cut. I wasted so much time changing my swimsuit that I knew I wasn't going to make it.

– You mean the world record?
– Yes. Before the start, all I thought of was to just swim the finals. So, I just swam that 200 meters. The problem is, these nuances affect everything, lose focus, and everything is over.

– It's not over! Or are you disappointed?
– I'm not. That's what I could do this time. After the finals, some people who told me not to be upset because, if I want to, I can swim the world record next week in Kecskemét, Hungary, or anywhere else.

– I do.

– The most important thing this time was to have the Olympic title. The first one. You did it.
– Indeed, I have the first one. Shall come the next one, the next one, the next one and so on.

– It is the gold medal that basically everyone hung around your neck months ago — when did you know, feel that you'll win?
– I didn't care that everyone called me a favorite. I was just thinking about my own business, nothing else. But I'm glad everyone foresees the events... When did I first feel like I was going to win the gold? I could tell you when I first felt this, but it makes no sense to do so. It's redundant. More importantly, I've been as serious about this final as I've been with all my races. I put myself there and swam myself out as well: I did everything I could to succeed, and I really can't be sad because I have the Olympic title – you can chase the results later.

– Although you have just denied it, it is hard not to notice that we are facing the most disappointed Olympic champion...
– But I'm really not disappointed. Now that I have the medal in my hands, I feel better. Just looking at it makes me feel so good.

– Does the gold weigh?
– Of course, it does! It weighs about the amount of strength and energy that people who have supported me on my journey have put into me and helped me get here.

–Were there a lot of them?
– A lot, really. I could list them, of course, but I still have work to do at this Olympics, and if we talked about everybody, we'd be sitting here till night. To be sure, my parents deserved my thanks the most – they got me on the road because I wouldn't be here without my mother's love, care and attention. For sure I will always know where I came from. But I'm grateful to my teammates because they've helped me a lot in my preparation and I'm also grateful to both my coach and youth coach.

–Almost the entire Hungarian swimming team was also on the stands: although there were no spectators, could you still celebrate during the victory ceremony?
– Our swimming team put themselves out there. It felt great that anyone who could come, came to the swimming pool – there was really a lot of them! And it was so nice to see the Hungarian flag in their hands!

–Do you know that many people also gathered at the headquarters of the Hungarian Swimming Federation on Margaret Island to watch the final of the 200m butterflies together?
– I didn't know that. But, I was hoping that a lot of people would get up or maybe not even go to bed in Hungary to root for me.

– When you decided to take swimming more seriously, did you dream of getting this high so fast?
– This result involves 15 years of work, which is not a short time. When my classmates thought about what profession to study or which high school to choose, I already knew that swimming would fill my life for a while. My life turned out to be a little different from theirs.

–It turned out pretty well...
– I'm not saying it didn't. I've always been proud of my life, and what I've achieved. When I was asked if I'd trade with someone, I always said no one – I have a good life of my own, and I love it. And then I think other people would rather trade with me. But only because they can only see one slice of the whole thing, and that this, the gold medal. I recommend everyone to follow only a day in my life – in and outside the swimming pool.

–You have never denied that you sometimes miss training sessions. Put your hand on your heart: how good have you been in this regard in the last few months?
– Uhm... Next question...?

–Let's move on then: you can't rest much, as on Thursday you are already in the 100m butterfly heat – are you thinking about time results or rankings?
– Rankings, but I think it would be embarrassing to swim a time of 51... My suit has already torn before the 200 butterfly, but the same thing won't happen again. I really hope this gold isn't my only medal here in Tokyo.

–Will the long-await rest follow the 100m butterfly?
– My goal is to make it to the final of the 100 butterfly here in Tokyo, and of course, to swim a good time there. Then, I'm going away for two months, I don't even want to see water – I'm just telling everyone to leave me alone for two months. Then I'll be back to the swimming pool, and I'll think about what to do next.

Translated by Vanda Orosz.