When you are born with a name like Clark Kent, you are expected to do great things. That is exactly what this 10-year-old “Superman” swimmer from California has accomplished in his young life. Clark, whose full name is Clark Kent Apuada, swims for the Monterey County Aquatic Team and was competing in the Far West International Championship in California when he made headlines.
See, the 10-year-old won the 100m butterfly in an impressive time of 1:09:38.
What makes the time even more impressive? The mark tops a 23-year-old record held by one of the all-time swimming greats, Olympian Michael Phelps.
Immediately after he topped the record, people were running to praise the swimming prodigy.
“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.”
Clark Kent, a 10-year-old from California nicknamed "Superman," is making headlines for beating a record held by retired Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps: https://t.co/egESUggolr pic.twitter.com/PXgHu8ZYA7
— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) July 31, 2018
As you would expect from such an impressive young man, he kicks ass at everything he does.
“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, added.
Clark definitely lives up to his nickname, and will be a swimmer to watch in the future. And if you were still wondering: Yes, his name was intentional, according to a brief profile from the Huffington Post.
Asked about the champion swimmer’s unusual name, she said she’d always loved the name Clark. And her husband’s favorite superhero just happened to be Superman. So when their child was born, they decided to give him the name “Clark Kent.”
The nickname “Superman” emerged naturally.“We’re always just telling people his name is Clark. But when they realize his full name, people just call him Superman,” Apuada said.
It fits, she said, since her son “is regarded as a superman in the water.”
