The 16-year-old from Swimfast Aquatic Club smashed the national Open 200 metres butterfly record at the Singapore Sports School pool.

His 2min 3.61sec effort bettered Gary Tan's 2:04.00 record set in June 2005.

The Raffles Junior College student said: 'When I touched the wall, I heard cheering. I knew I did a good time, so it was satisfying.'

The record-breaking performance came after he missed out on bronzes in the 200m fly and 400m individual medley at last year's South-east Asia Games. Yesterday's efforts would have earned him a bronze in the 200m fly at the 2007 Games.

The Singapore Swimming Association's Centre of Excellence coach John Dempsey said: 'He buckled down after the SEA Games. He was disappointed but he has worked extremely hard and got his just rewards today.'

Tze Kang also broke a national Under-17 record at the meet on Saturday.

His time of 56.57sec in the 100m fly was better than Jeffrey Su's record of 56.78sec.

Tze Kang said: 'My goal was to do my personal best for my events. The records are a bonus for me.'

National coach David Lim considers him to be the best butterfly swimmer to emerge in the past few years.

Lim said: 'He has the potential. After today, the 2012 Olympic Games should be on his mind.'

Various age-group records were also re-written at the three-day event, which saw Swimfast top the medal standings with 61 golds, 48 silvers and 47 bronzes.

Lionel Khoo, 12, re-wrote the national U-14 records in the 50m and 100m breaststroke.

Bryan Tay, 19, broke three records in the men's 18 years and older category - 200m IM, 100m free and 50m back - en route to winning five events.

Quah Tingwen, 15, topped all the seven events she competed in. She set new records in the 15-17 age group - 50m free, 100m back, 100m fly, 200m IM and 100m free.