The most decorated swimmer of all time proved no match for a 10-year-old athlete, Clark Kent Apuada. The young swimmer — whose nickname, naturally is “Superman,”— won the 100-meter butterfly with a time of 1:09:38 at the Far West International Championship in California.
That’s a full second faster than Michael Phelps swam the race when he set the previous record at the same meet back in 1995, reports Maxim.
Phelps wasted no time in congratulating the new record-holder.
Big congrats to #clarkkent for smashing that meet record!!! Keep it up dude !!#dreambig
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) August 1, 2018
Kent has only been swimming competitively for four years, but he’s already planning on swimming in the 2024 Summer Olympics (which is the first Games he would be eligible to compete).
10-year-old Clark Kent Apuada has beaten a swimming record set by a young Michael Phelps, becoming a “Superman” of the pool in the process. https://t.co/EJUBaSsRa1 pic.twitter.com/7387DVeoUj
— ABC News (@ABC) August 2, 2018
“This kid is unlike any other young man that I’ve ever coached,” Kent’s coach Dia Riana told CNN. “He’s always stood out, he’s just, he’s kind of a savant of sorts.”
Kent told CBS Baltimore, “I love swimming because I have a lot of people supporting me, and my coaches are always there for me and my parents are always there.” He then added, “Dream big, and always focus on your dreams and have fun.”
Others have reacted to Kent’s time on social media.
10yr old kid named Clark Kent broke a 100-meter butterfly record that Michael Phelps set in 1995. What in the world …
— SUNNI (@SunniAndTheCity) August 1, 2018
wow!
— Kevin Farley (@Imkevinfarley) August 2, 2018
Bravo to this gifted talented young athlete who has more focus and talent than Republican party
— Monty Sullivan (@SullivanMonty) August 2, 2018
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