10-year-old Clark Kent Apuada smashes Michael Phelps record
Records are made to be broken, and two young athletes are getting their names in the record books very early in their careers.
10-year-old swimmer Clark Kent Apuada certainly seems to be living up to his super hero name.
The boy from Monterey Country in the USA is known as aqua Superman after breaking Michael Phelps' 100 metre butterfly record, set at the same meet in 1995.
The 23-year old record was improved by 1.1 seconds at the Far West International Swimming Championship on Sunday.
In an interview with CBS the prodigy said he was very excited about his accomplishment.
"Being a Michael Phelps record breaker is amazing, because Michael Phelps is one of the largest swimming icons in the world.”
Not only did he break the record of the 23-time gold medallist, but he received a congratulatory message from the most decorated Olympian as well
"It's the coolest thing in the world because that's all he talked about,'' Apuada's coach Travis Rianda told CBS.
''It wasn't like, 'I want to be better than Michael Phelps,' or anything like that. His first goals were, 'I want to be a scientist, an Olympic gold medallist for the United States and I want to be a black belt.' He's on track for all three of those."
On top of smashing the swimming legend's record, he won six other races and is eager to make a splash at the Olympics, once he is old enough.
From the pool to the track
He isn't the only 10-year-old making headlines though.
Camden runner Sianni Wynn broke a 24-year old national record in the 400 metre sprint at the National Junior Olympic Track and Championships.
Wynn clinched three events, but it was her time of 58.97 in the 400 metre dash for 9 and 10 year-old girls that saw her improve the record of Olympic Champion Monique Henderson.
Henderson set the previous mark of 59.8 seconds in 1994 and went on to win gold at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 in the 4x400 metre relay.
Could this be a sign of the future for this young Olympic hopeful?
"I want to go the Olympics one day."
Born to run
Wynn trains three times a week with Willis Camden Pal Track Club. Despite her youth, she is already eyeing a scholarship for college, with the dream of one day competing at the Olympic Games. An Olympic medal would is the ultimate reward, but for now she's celebrating with a doughnut.
Her coach Albert Essilfie told ABS News that she is a very special athlete to coach.
'"I've coached for 24 years and I've seen it all, parents yelling at kids and pushing their kids. But with Sianni, all you have to say is 'Good luck! Have fun!' She goes out there for the love of it. At the race where she broke the record, she went out and ran her heart out."
