NANTERR. France – Not even an Olympic gold medal could make Kristóf Milák talk.
Despite her victory Saturday night in the 100-meter butterfly at the Paris Olympics, her silence after the race was expected. Milák has not spoken to reporters in his native Hungary for more than a year. And the dozen waiting for him knew what was coming.
Absolutely nothing.
“He is a little more than special,” said Hungarian national coach Csaba Sos. “Very special.”
“I have no idea why he doesn’t speak out, because he’s doing the same to the Hungarian media,” Sos added, shrugging his shoulders. “I was a swimmer and when I competed I liked to talk.”
Hungarian reporters describe Milák as dark, moody or detached and difficult to read. He was away from training last year and it was unclear how he would recover.
Milák is not just any swimmer. He is the world record holder in the 200, a race he lost earlier in the week to superstar Leon Marchand, who won four individual gold medals in her native France. Milák settled for silver and left the pool deck after that race dejected, head down, barely looking up.
He won gold in Tokyo three years ago in the 200-meter fly and added a silver in the 100-meter fly. There was some redemption on Saturday, winning the 100 meters in 49.90 seconds. Canadian Josh Liendo took silver with 49.99, and fellow Canadian Ilya Kharun took bronze with 50.45.
Hungarian reporters said Milák skipped local television interviews and a press conference after winning the race.
As Milák did not speak, Kharun was asked to describe him.
“I thought he would be very cruel at first,” Kharun said. “All these rumors and stuff, but he was actually — he was really nice, you know, he was really supportive.”
“I can say that he is very good at what he does, despite having that big chance, a powerful, powerful blow.”
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