Clark Kent, 10, breaks record held by Michael Phelps

A ten-year-old nicknamed ‘Superman’ has outdone a long-standing swimming record set by 23-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps at a swimming championship in California.

Clark Kent Apuada won the 10-and-under 100 metre butterfly event with a time of 1:09:38, at the Far West International Championship, California, CNN reported.

That’s over a second faster than the 100 metre butterfly record Phelps set at the same championship in 1995 when he was the same age.

He has been swimming competitively for just four years.

The retired professional swimmer and owner of 28 Olympic medals, was quick to praise Clark on social media for his record-breaking swim, telling him to “keep it up”.

The Year Five student placed first in all seven of his events at the competition.

His coach Dia Riana told CNN, "He's always stood out. He's just - he's kind of a savant."

The young achiever also has a talent for piano, martial arts and STEM subjects, according to his father Chris Apuada.

Clark doesn’t think his work load is too much.

“I deal with it really well, I just have to balance,” he told CNN.

“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.”