World Swimming Championships: Hungarian teenager breaks 10-year-old Michael Phelps world record

Kristof Milak won gold in the men's 200 metres butterfly with a time of 1:50.73 to surpass the mark set by Phelps in the event in 2009

Wednesday 24 July 2019 14:43 BST
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Hungarian teenager Kristof Milak broke Michael Phelps‘ 10-year world record to win gold in the men’s 200 metres butterfly at the World Swimming Championships.

Milak touched the wall in a time of 1:50.73 ahead of Japan’s Daiya Seto (1:53.86) and South African Chad le Clos (1:54.15).

The 19-year-old’s time surpassed the 1:51.51 mark set by Phelps at the world championships in 2009 during the height of the high-tech suit era.

Milak is the first teenager to win a world title in the event since Phelps at age 18 in 2003.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Milak, who climbed out of the pool and took two deep bows as the crowd cheered.

Le Clos was out under world-record pace through the first lap before Milak gained the lead after 150 meters.

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