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28 March 2024

Phelps' golden record start sets Games alight

US President Bush poses with gold medal and world record winner Michael Phelps, right, and bronze medallist in freestyle swimming Larsen Jensen, left, in Beijing

Published
By AFP
Swimming superstar Michael Phelps set the Olympics alight Sunday when he launched his quest for Games immortality by smashing a world record in winning the first of a potential eight gold medals.

Phelps, wearing the new form-fitting Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit, launched an American charge which saw them win five medals in the pool for a Games total of eight including two gold.

A second shooting win put hosts China back on top of the table with three golds and a silver.

On the second day of competition Phelps leads a galaxy of stars on show including basketball's Yao Ming and LeBron James, as well as tennis players Roger Federer and Jelena Jankovic.

At the pool, where the first four finals produced two world records, 23-year-old Phelps commanded centre stage as he successfully opened his bid to break Mark Spitz's 36-year record of seven golds at one Games by winning the men's 400m individual medley.

With US President George W. Bush applauding in the stands, Phelps carved 1.41 seconds off his world record 4:05.25 set last June, but admitted afterwards he didn't have high expectations before the race.

"I was in the ready room. I didn't feel so good, I got, like, these cold chills," he said.

"Afterwards, I looked up and saw President Bush giving me the thumbs up and holding up the American flag. That was pretty cool."

Earlier today, the US relay team, anchored by 41-year-old Dara Torres at her fifth Olympics, finished second for her 10th career Olympic medal.

A Games viewing record of more than one billion is expected to be set late in the evening in a mouthwatering men's basketball clash between the US and China featuring Chinese hero and flag-bearer Yao Ming and an all-star US squad including Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

"It's probably going to be the most watched game in the history of the world," said James. "It's going to send a lot of chills through my body just to be there and be part of it."

Federer, looking to reclaim his world number one ranking from Spaniard Rafael Nadal, opens his Games tennis account against Russian Dmitry Tursunov.

American Serena Williams is the first of the women's stars on court, playing Olga Govortsova of Belarus, after the start was delayed more than two hours by rain.