Zalán Sárkány Wins 1500 Title, Milak Tops 100 Fly Rankings

Kristóf Milák sets new world-leading time in 100 fly at Hungarian Championships

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:49pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting the motion and energy of a swimming race, with the swimmers' bodies and movements broken down into abstract shapes and planes in vibrant colors.The Hungarian Championships showcase the country's swimming talent, with Zalán Sárkány and Kristóf Milák delivering standout performances that position them as medal contenders on the international stage.Austin Today

Zalán Sárkány pulled away in the final 400 meters to win the 1500 freestyle title at the Hungarian Championships in Sopron, while Kristóf Milák posted the new world-leading time in the 100 butterfly with a 50.93 in the semifinals.

Why it matters

The Hungarian Championships serve as an important tune-up event ahead of the European Championships in Paris later this year. Sárkány and Milák's performances demonstrate their strong form and position them as top contenders for medals at the continental meet.

The details

Sárkány had been in a tight race with Dávid Betlehem and Kristof Rasovsky before pulling away in the final 400 meters to win the 1500 free in 14:54.05. Betlehem was second in 14:59.59 and Rasovsky took third in 15:02.62. Sárkány's younger brother Zétény, 15, also impressed by lowering the Hungarian age group record in the event. In the 100 butterfly, Milák's semifinal time of 50.93 moved him to the top of the global rankings, surpassing Maxime Grousset's 50.95 from January. Milák will be aiming for his third title of the meet in the 100 fly final.

  • Zalán Sárkány pulled away at the 1050 meter mark to win the 1500 free.
  • Kristóf Milák posted his world-leading 100 fly time of 50.93 in the semifinals.

The players

Zalán Sárkány

A Hungarian swimmer who won the 1500 freestyle title at the Hungarian Championships.

Kristóf Milák

A Hungarian swimmer who set the new world-leading time in the 100 butterfly at 50.93 in the semifinals of the Hungarian Championships.

Dávid Betlehem

A Hungarian swimmer who finished second in the 1500 freestyle at the Hungarian Championships.

Kristof Rasovsky

A Hungarian swimmer who finished third in the 1500 freestyle at the Hungarian Championships.

Zétény Sárkány

Zalán Sárkány's 15-year-old brother, who lowered the Hungarian age group record in the 1500 freestyle.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Zalán's younger brother Zétény also made his mark in the race as the 15-year-old lowered the Hungarian age group record to 15:22.57 en-route to fifth.”

— Liz Byrnes, Author

What’s next

Zalán Sárkány and Kristóf Milák will look to continue their strong performances at the European Championships in Paris later this year, where they will aim to contend for medals in their respective events.

The takeaway

The Hungarian Championships have showcased the rising talent of swimmers like Zalán Sárkány and Kristóf Milák, who are positioning themselves as top contenders on the European stage ahead of the continental championships.