Kristof Milak smashes 200 meter butterfly record

Kristof Milak of Hungary celebrates his win in the men’s 200 meter butterfly final on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

On day four of swimming at the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships, Kristof Milak of Hungary won the men’s 200 meter butterfly and set a new world record in the event.

With a time of 0.74 seconds, Milak reached the 50-meter point at 24.66 seconds, good enough to be in second place. By reaching the 150-meter mark in one minute and 21.57 seconds, Milak finally took the lead in the race. He continued his pace in the last 50 meters of the race to finish with a time of one minute and 50.73, breaking the world record.

The previous world record was set by Michael Phelps of the United States, at one minute and 51.51 seconds, during the 2009 World Championships in Rome. Milak’s new record is a doubly impressive achievement as it was also his first gold at the World Championships.

Daiya Seto of Japan won silver by finishing his race in one minute and 53.86 seconds followed by Chad le Clos of South Africa winning bronze by finishing in one minute and 54.15 seconds.

Adam Peaty of Britain continued his success in breaststroke by winning the men’s 50 meter race.

With a time of 0.60 seconds, Peaty cruised through the short-distance race by finishing at 26.06 seconds, 0.60 seconds ahead of the silver-medalist.

Peaty successfully defended his title in the event for the third straight World Championships and picked up his second gold in Gwangju. On Monday he grabbed gold in the men’s 100 meter breaststroke. During the semifinals of the 100 meter breaststroke, Peaty set a new world record of 56.88 seconds. Felipe Lima of Brazil won silver by finishing his race in 26.66 seconds followed by Joao Gomes Junior of Brazil who got the bronze with 26.69 seconds. Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy won gold in the men’s 800 meter freestyle.

From left: Adam Peaty, Gregorio Paltrinieri, Federica Pellegrini

Racing in the fourth lane, Paltrinieri reached the first 50 meters in 26.99 seconds, tied for fourth. He slowly made his way up to second by the 100-meters mark, and by the 250-meter mark, Paltrinieri finally took the lead, clocking in at two minutes and 22.13 seconds. Paltrinieri continued to hold on to his lead by finishing the race in seven minutes and 39.27 seconds, finishing 2.01 seconds ahead of the silver medalist, Henrik Christiansen of Norway.

Paltrinieri won back-to-back gold in the men’s 1,500 meter freestyle but has never won the 800 meter freestyle before. In this event, Paltrinieri won a silver in 2015 and a bronze during the 2017 World Championships.

As Paltrinieri also competes in open water, this is his second medal in Gwangju. Last week, he won silver in the mixed open water 5 kilometer in Yeosu.

Christiansen won silver by finishing his race in seven minutes and 41.28 seconds followed by David Aubry of France who won, clocking in at seven minutes and 42.08 seconds. Following the 800 meter freestyle, Federica Pellegrini of Italy continued her success in the women’s 200 meter freestyle.

Racing in the fourth lane, Pellegrini didn’t have the best start to the race, as she reached the 50-meter point in seventh, at 27.05 seconds. However, she quickly made her way up to fourth by the 100-meter point and to second at the 150-meter point. Then, she sped up once more in her last 50 meters to win the race in one minute and 54.22 seconds, 0.44 seconds ahead of silver medalist Ariarne Titmus of Australia.

With a win, Pellegrini successfully defended her title in the women’s 200 meter freestyle. In addition to her back-to-back titles, this is her fourth gold in the event, as she also won it during the 2009 and 2011 World Championships. Pellegrini is also the world and Championship record holder in women’s 200 meter freestyle, at one minute and 52.98 seconds, which she set during the 2009 World Championships.

Titmus won silver by finishing her race in one minute and 54.66 seconds followed by Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden winning bronze by finishing her race in one minute and 54.78 seconds.

To finish day four of swimming, Team Australia picked up gold in the mixed medley 4X100 meter.

Racing in the fifth lane, Mitchell Larkin started Team Australia’s first 100 meters in third, at 53.47 seconds. Then Matthew Wilson allowed Australia to move up a spot to second at one minute and 51.84 seconds. Although they dropped a spot to tie for third with the third swimmer, Emma McKeon, their final swimmer Cate Campbell sprinted in the last 100 meter of the relay for a thrilling come-from-behind victory, as Team Australia finished their race a close 0.02 seconds ahead of the United States.

Australia finished its race in three minutes and 39.08 seconds for the gold.

The United States won silver by finishing in three minutes and 39.10 seconds followed by Britain with bronze by finishing in three minutes and 40.68 seconds.

BY KANG YOO-RIM [kang.yoorim@joongang.co.kr]