Tokyo 2020: Just because people expect a lot from me, I won’t be better or worse – Milák

– You're considered the favorite in the 200 butterfly; everyone expects a gold medal from you. How much of a burden is that?
– It's obvious I'm expected to be the winner, which is fair because I'm the world record holder and world champion – Kristóf Milák responded. – I'm sure it'll put someone under pressure, but it won't cause me any tension, I won't even care about it. Just because people expect a lot from me, I won't be better or worse. I'm doing my job the same way I did before. It's a matter of training, and I have a lot of training in me, so this expectation is not even a mental burden.

– But are you excited?
– No. I came to the airport as I did before any of my other world competitions. The feeling will come with time. Now we're going to a training camp and acclimatize, and then from there to the Olympic Village, where I start to be mentally attuned. Then, I only have the Olympics in front of my eyes.

– What did you think when you learned fans won't be allowed at the venues?
– To be honest, I've gotten used to this situation for the past year and a half. Of course, I'm sad that the 20,000-seat arena won't be full of frantic fans because the Japanese love swimming and sports in general. But as I've solved it before as well, I'm going to rule out the lack of mental reinforcement that the audience gives me. I'm glad my opponents won't get that extra boost either.

LÁSZLÓ CSEH ONLY KEEPS POSITIVITY IN MIND

The Hungarian team traveling to the Olympics on Monday consisted mainly of swimmers. Besides Kristóf Milák, László Cseh, Tamás Kenderesi, Boglárka Kapás and Dominik Kozma also said an emotional farewell to the family who accompanied them to the airport. The sailors also traveled with them. Although Zsombor Berecz left in the morning, Mária Érdi and the Vadnai brothers, Benjámin and Jonatán, also appeared at the terminal.

"This is going to be a very unusual Olympics. We will be alone, the atmosphere of the village will be different, but I'm already mentally prepared for this and I'm tuning in a little bit there as well," László Cseh told our newspaper. "But on the bright side, there is no need to fear that the power of the audience might lead us in the wrong direction! I'm just trying to perform the best I can, without any burden. I want to swim with pleasure and have fun. That's all. Of course, there's a feeling that something's going to end for me in Tokyo, but it's more of an ease, so I don't feel bad about it at all.”

To our question, Boglárka Kapás said that she was looking forward to the day to finally travel to Japan, and although she has mixed feelings about having to part with the family now, she is still happy rather than sad. She's a little nervous about the flight but thinks that as soon as they arrive, unload, and check if she's got all her belongings, she'll calm down.

On 8 July it was revealed that even Japanese spectators are not allowed in the stadiums, which, according to Boglárka Kapás, will be very strange. She says fans can bring a good atmosphere to the arena, which has an incentive effect on everyone, but she's glad that at least the Olympics can be hosted, and they can compete.

"Family is in the focus during the farewell. I've already given a lot of thought to what awaits me in Tokyo," said Tamás Kenderesi. "But as soon as I go into the waiting room and get on the plane, this will change; transforms into anticipation and preparation. I'm excited, because the Olympics is the competition of competitions after all, and I've been preparing for it for a long time, and I've thought about it a lot in the past. I'm glad this moment has finally come, and I hope I can come home with good feelings. There will be many things to adapt to in Tokyo, including the absence of spectators; only speakers will be used for the cheer. Spectators always inspire me; I hope my performance won't feel their absence, because racing is the most important thing after all."

Translated by Vanda Orosz