Michael Fred Phelps is the most successful and most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 medals. He also holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals – 23 medals. His name hit the roof when he won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games, the game where he broke fellow American swimmer Mark Spitz’s 1972 record of seven first-place finishes at any single Olympic Games.
Now, a 100-meter butterfly record that Phelps set at the championship in 1995 has been broken – by a 10-year-old boy. As spooky as it may sound, the boy’s name is Clark Kent. Yes, the same fictional character name in American comic “Superman”. And yes, they call this 10-year-old swimmer Superman too.
Apparently, Clark Kent Apuada won the 100-meter butterfly in 1:09:38 over the weekend as he competed at the Far West International Championship in California. Phelps’ old record was 1:10.48 so Clark Kent has beaten Michael Phelps’s 23-year-old record by more than a second. The boy said – “That was one of my dreams – to beat Michael Phelps’s record – since I was 7.”
Apuada, a rising fifth-grader who has been swimming competitively for four years, didn’t only break Phelps record to win the gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly event but also ended up with gold medals in every event he competed – the 200 individual medley, 50 butterfly, 50 backstroke, 100 backstroke, 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.
Her mother, Cynthia, said she always liked the name Clark and her husband’s favourite superhero just happened to be Superman. So when their child was born, they decided to give him the name “Clark Kent.” Cynthia Apuada said – “We’re always just telling people his name is Clark. But when they realize his full name, people just call him Superman.”
From an early age, Cynthia said her son was extremely motivated about setting goals for himself. A few years ago, she said, Clark researched all the local swim clubs and started memorizing the records other swimmers were setting. She recalled her son said – “Look, Mom, Michael Phelps has a record in the Far Western. I can beat that.’” He was just 7 then.
Clark Kent’s coach, Dia Riana, said – “The kid is unlike any other young man that I’ve ever coached. He’s always stood out. He’s just, he’s kind of a savant of sorts.” Coincidently, the boy is the same age that Phelps was when he set the 1995 record. Amazingly, Clark has only been swimming competitively for four years, and is just out there having fun.
“I was so motivated. I was so happy and relieved that I was able to beat that record.” – Clark said about his win. Clark’s talent isn’t confined to the pool though. “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,” – said his father, Chris Apuada. Clark says the load doesn’t get too heavy – “I deal with it really well, I just have to balance.”
The Superman said he has an even bigger goal in sight – the Olympics. He said – “Paris 2024 or Los Angeles 2028. This record has motivated me to keep swimming, to keep striving and do everything I can to get to that elite level.” Technically, however, Apuada can’t qualify for the Olympics just yet. Michael Phelps himself has congratulated the little Superman for smashing his record.
If he keeps it up, chances are high that Americans may see him in the Team USA in a not so future Olympics. And because he has something which Michael Phelps didn’t – the name Clark Kent – the little Superman may just out-medal Phelps one day. The Superman has a message to share – “Always have fun and never give up on your dreams, no matter what anybody says.”
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August 2nd, 2018 by financetwitter
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