—blogged by @lovelikejhoney
A 10-year-old boy with a superhero name has broken the fastest swimming record, previously held by Olympic champion, #MichaelPhelps, for 23 years.
Clark Kent Apuada, a swimmer for the Monterey County Aquatic Team, competed at the Far West International Championship in California last weekend, where he won the 100-meter butterfly in a little over one minute—1:09:38 to be exact.
With a Superman namesake, Clark tapped into his super powers and came out more than a second better than the 100-meter butterfly record that Michael Phelps set at the championship in 1995.
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Yet, what’s even more notable, is that the record-breaking child has only been swimming competitively for four years.
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“This kid is unlike any other young man that I’ve ever coached,” Clark’s coach Dia Riana told CNN. “He’s always stood out, he’s just, he’s kind of a savant of sorts.”
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However, swimming isn’t the only activity Clark is involved in.
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“He does piano lessons, he does martial arts, and at school, if there’s a computer class, coding, or STEM programs he’s always joining,” his father, Chris Apuada, said.
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At a young age, Clark has learned to multi-task and tells CNN: “I deal with it really well, I just have to balance.”
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“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,” Clark continued.
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Defeating a professional swimmer with 28 Olympic medals is quite the accomplishment. Yet, Clark believes it’s a matter of determination.
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“Dream big,” he said, “and always focus on your dreams and have fun.”
