19-year-old Kristof Milak breaks Michael Phelps' 200m fly world record
Michael Phelps’ 18-year-reign as the world-record holder in the 200m butterfly came to an end Wednesday.
Kristof Milak, a 19-year-old Hungarian swimmer, set a new record of 1:50.73 in the event at the world championships in Gwangju, South Korea, shattering Phelps’ time of 1:51.51, according to international federation FINA.
Phelps, 34, clocked in with that time in 2009 at the worlds in Rome, but held the title since 2001.
"As frustrated as I am to see that record go down, I couldn’t be happier to see how he did it,” Phelps told the New York Times. “That kid’s last 100 was incredible. He put together a great 200 fly from start to finish.”
Milak posted a video from the event to his official Facebook page, along with a “feeling happy” tag. He took home the gold medal from the event, in addition to setting the record.
Daiya Seto, of Japan, came in second place at 1.53.86.
