CBS Sports
Clark Kent, the next Michael Phelps?
- Clark Kent, a 10-year-old boy, recently beat an old record set by Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps.
- Dubbed "Superman," Kent swam a 100-meter butterfly race at a competition in California over one second faster than what Phelps managed 23 years ago.
- He says he feels like he can fly through water - and who are we to argue otherwise?
When Clark Kent, a 10-year-old boy dubbed "Superman," is in the water, he says he feels like he is "flying," according to CBS Evening News.
And judging by the swimming speeds he has been registering, it's hard to argue otherwise, as the young phenom has recently beaten a record that 23-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps set over 23 years ago.
Phelps, 33, is widely recognised as the most famous swimmer of all time. He is certainly the most decorated, as he has a total of 28 Olympic medals to go with his 33 World Championship medals.
He has also set an astonishing 39 world records, more records than any other swimmer.
But a record he set as a junior has just been broken, as 10-year-old Kent won the 100-meter butterfly in 1:09:38 on July 29, according to CBS Baltimore. This is more than a second faster than what Phelps managed at the same competition, the Far West International Championship in California, over two decades ago in 1995.
Kent placed first in all seven races he competed in that day, and says people now call him "Superman."
"If I have positive thoughts, then positive things will happen," he said, according to CBS Evening News.
According to CBS Baltimore, he added: "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."
Getty Images
Michael Phelps.
Phelps does not begrudge Kent from beating one of his old records. In fact, he even tweeted his support.
Phelps said: "Big congrats to Clark Kent for smashing that meet record! Keep it up dude."
Watch Kent in the swimming pool here:
Big congrats to #clarkkent for smashing that meet record!!! Keep it up dude !!#dreambig
- Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) August 1, 2018