Michael Phelps lauds Hungarian Milak after breaking swimming record

MANILA, Philippines — Swimming legend Michael Phelps congratulated Hungarian swimmer Kristof Milak after the latter broke a world record Phelps held for 18 years.

Taking to Instagram, Phelps praised the 19-year-old Milak.

 

 

 

 

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It happened because there was a kid who wanted to do it, who dreamed of doing it, who figured out what it would take to do it, who worked on his technique until it was beautiful and who put in the really, really hard work that it takes to do it,” Phelps said in a phone interview. My hat’s off to him. Congrats to @swimilak Beautiful stroke.

A post shared by Michael Phelps (@m_phelps00) on Jul 24, 2019 at 6:24pm PDT

"My hat's off to him," Phelps wrote.

Milak clocked in 1:50.73 in the 200m Butterfly during the World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea on Wednesday.

He was 0.78 faster than Phelps' 2009 record.

Phelps first held the 200m Butterfly record in 2001. He retired in 2016 after a long and decorated swimming career.