FLASH! Kristof Milak Roars to European 100 Fly Record to Clinch Historic Fourth Straight Title
Kristof Milak roared to a European 100 fly record with a surge over the final metres to clinch an historic fourth straight crown in Paris.
The Olympic champion overhauled long-time leader Maxime Grousset to touch in 49.48, just 0.03 off Caeleb Dressel’s WR of 48.45 and a new continental standard. Grousset was second in 49.70 with Noè Ponti third in 49.93.
There had never been a sub-50 winner in history, let alone a sub-50 podium, Paris 2026 the first time either has happened in European waters.
Grousset was greeted with cheers of “Maxime! Maxime!” when he was introduced to the crowd ahead of the race with Milak strolling on to poolside looking like a prize fighter with his hoodie up.
The Frenchman went out fast and reached the turn first in 22.97, 0.22 ahead of Milak (23.19) with Hubert Kos – the 200 back champion – third ahead of Ponti.
Grousset continued to lead but Milak gradually ate into the deficit and his momentum saw him past the home favourite in the final metres and into the wall with a 26.29 second 50.
Milak’s time was the second fastest in history, surpassed only by Dressel’s 49.45 from the Tokyo Olympics five years ago when he pipped the Hungarian who cut 0.14 from Grousset’s European record of 49.62 set en-route to the world title last year in Singapore.
It was also a championship standard with Milak cutting a 0.70 chunk from his own record from Budapest 2021.
Milak became the first man to win four 100 fly titles (2021, 2022, 2024 and now 2026) , moving one clear of Swede Lars Frolander who won three straight golds in 1997. 1999 and 2000.
