GWANGJU, South Korea | Kristof Milak of Hungary is getting his swimming career started with a bang.
He broke Michael Phelps’ world record in the 200-meter butterfly Wednesday night at the world championships by nearly eight-tenths of a second.
Milak touched in 1:50.73 to win the race and lower the mark of 1:51.51 that Phelps set at the 2009 worlds in Rome.
“When I turned back and saw the time, all the pressure, all the tension just got off my back and all the joys came out,” Milak said.
Phelps set the mark for the first time in 2001 and no one had taken it from him until Milak.
“It is absolutely fantastic. After that swim, I don’t think anybody can go close to him,” fellow Hungarian Laszlo Cseh said.
The 19-year-old swimmer became 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.
Chad le Clos of South Africa was out under world-record pace through the first lap before Milak gained the lead after 150 meters.
“Unbelievable race, really,” said Le Clos, an old rival of Phelps. “Probably one of the greatest races ever.”
Daiya Seto of Japan finished 3.13 seconds behind for silver in 1:53.86. Le Clos settled for bronze in 1:54.15.
Meanwhile, Federica Pellegrini began the countdown to the end of her stellar career in style.
The Italian defeated a field of younger competitors — minus three of the top four seeds, including ailing American and Bethesda native Katie Ledecky — to win the 200-meter freestyle.
Pellegrini, who turns 31 next month, is competing at her final worlds. She’s aiming to make a fifth Olympics in Tokyo next year before retiring.
She overtook 18-year-old Australian Ariarne Titmus down the stretch to earn her fourth career gold — and record eighth consecutive medal — in her signature event. The Italian touched in 1 minute, 54.22 seconds.
“I’m not sad, I’m so happy,” Pellegrini said. “I’m so happy because it’s an amazing world championships, an amazing 200 and I hope next year, my last Olympic championship, and after that a new life.”
Sun Yang was back in the pool but with none of the rancor from the previous night when he was booed and shunned on the medals podium. The Chinese star with a history of doping failed to medal in the 800 free.
Pellegrini joined Katinka Hosszu of Hungary and Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden as the only women to win an event at least four times at worlds.
“It’s amazing,” she said.
Titmus, who stunned Ledecky in winning the 400 free, took silver in 1:54.66.
“She’s a true champion, world record holder,” Titmus said of Pellegrini. “For her to beat me, I’m OK.”
Sjostrom earned bronze in 1:54.78. She received oxygen on the pool deck after the race and later said she had a headache.
Australia rallied to win the mixed 4x100 medley relay, with Cate Campbell running down American Simone Manuel on the last lap.
Mitch Larkin, Matthew Wilson, Emma McKeon and Campbell won in 3:39.08.
Caeleb Dressel swam a blistering butterfly leg to haul the Americans from fourth to first before turning it over to Manuel for the anchor leg. But she couldn’t stave off a charging Campbell.
Ryan Murphy, Lilly King, Dressel and Manuel took silver in 3:39.10.
The British team of Georgia Davies, Adam Peaty, James Guy and Freya Anderson earned bronze.
The crowd clapped along to the Italian national anthem for another time when Gregorio Paltrinieri won the 800 free in 7:39.27.
Henrik Christiansen of Denmark earned silver and David Aubry of France took bronze.
Peaty cruised to victory in the 50 breaststroke, a non-Olympic event. He won in 26.06 seconds, adding to his 100 breast title.
Brazilians Felipe Lima and Joao Gomes Junior took silver and bronze, respectively.
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