19-year-old Kristof Milak breaks Michael Phelps' 200m fly world record

Kristof Malik clocked in at 1:50.73, shaving off 0.78 seconds of Phelps' record.

July 24, 2019, 5:59 PM

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.

PHOTO: Kristof Milak of Hungary in action during the men's 200m Butterfly Final during the Swimming events at the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Championships, Gwangju, South Korea, July 24, 2019.
Kristof Milak of Hungary in action during the men's 200m Butterfly Final during the Swimming events at the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Championships, Gwangju, South Korea, July 24, 2019. FINA Swimming World Championships 2019, Gwangju, Korea - 24 Jul 2019
Yonhap/EPA-EFE/REX

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.”

PHOTO: Michael Phelps winner of the Gold Medal, 200m Butterfly at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games on August 9, 2016 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Michael Phelps wins the Gold Medal in the 200m Butterfly at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games on August 9, 2016 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Hahn Lionel/Sipa USA via AP Images

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.

PHOTO: Swimming - 18th FINA World Swimming Championships - Men's 200m Butterfly Final - Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, South Korea - July 24, 2019. Kristof Milak of Hungary celebrates winning the 200m butterfly.
Swimming - 18th FINA World Swimming Championships - Men's 200m Butterfly Final - Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, South Korea - July 24, 2019. Kristof Milak of Hungary celebrates winning the 200m butterfly finals at the 18th FINA World Swimming Championships, July 24, 2019.
Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters

Daiya Seto, of Japan, came in second place at 1.53.86.