Ten-year-old named Clark Kent breaks swimmer Michael Phelps' record

A 10-year-old swimmer from the US is making headlines around the world after breaking a long-standing record held by Michael Phelps.

Clark Kent is already smashing records at age 10. Source: Supplied

A US boy has smashed a swimming record held by Olympic champion Michael Phelps for more than a decade, living up to his nickname of 'Superman'.

Clark Kent Apauda,10, finished and won the Under 10s 100 metre butterly at the 2018 Far Western Long Course Championships in a time of 1:09.38.

This was five seconds faster than his closest competitor and more than a second faster than the previous record for the same event of 1:10.48 set by a young Phelps back in 1995.

Apuada, of the Monterey County Aquatic Team in California, won all seven of his races at the weekend’s meet.

USA's Michael Phelps competes in the Men's swimming 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Source: AFP / Odd Andersen

Speaking at the event, Apauda said his ultimate goal is to one day compete at the Olympics.

He also had an important message to share.

"Always have fun and never give up on your dreams, no matter what anybody says; and yes that was one of my dreams, to beat Michael Phelps' record," he told CNN.

The ten-year-old is already smashing swimming records. Source: Supplied

Phelps, who retired from swimming after the Rio Olympics, is the most successful and most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 medals - 23 of them gold.

He won a record-breaking 23rd gold meal after leading the US to victory in the 400-meter medley relay at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio, 2016.