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Record-breaking Phelps lands first gold

By AFP Published: 2008-08-09T20:00:00+04:00

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American superstar Michael Phelps obliterated his own world record in winning the first of a potential record-breaking eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics swimming competition on Sunday.

The 23-year-old shattered his record in comfortably winning the 400 metres individual medley gold medal in four minutes 03.84 seconds.

Phelps carved 1.41 seconds off his mark of 4:05.25 set at the American trials in Omaha last June.

Phelps, watched by US President George W.Bush, beat home Hungary's Laszlo Cseh (4:06.16) and teammate Ryan Lochte (4:08.09).

"I knew it was going to be a tough race all the way through and I wasn't really happy to turn and see all three of us together at the 200 metres point," Phelps said.

"I wasn't really comfortable with that close a race, I normally have more of a gap. That was a pretty emotional race.

"It was cool, I looked up and saw him (Bush), he waved the flag and nodded his head - that was a cool feeling to have the president here and to say congratulations."

It was Phelps's seventh career Olympic gold medal and ninth overall as he chases down Mark Spitz's 36-year-old record of seven golds at one Games.

Phelps's exacting campaign to achieve that will entail at least 17 races, but he showed he was up to the challenge by being under world record pace throughout the 400m medley final.

He was challenged by Lochte in the second backstroke leg with his teammate slightly ahead of him at one stage.

But Phelps finished powerfully in the breaststroke and freestyle legs to convincingly win gold.

"In the last 100 metres I could see Lochte was tiring, so I tried everything I could," Cseh said.

"It helped swimming in the next lane to Michael and I wanted to try and catch him."

Lochte, who held the 200m backstroke world record up to this year's US trials, said his backstroke leg had damaged his chances in the race.

"I think my backstroke leg hurt me a bit more than I wanted it to and the breaststroke I just held on and it was all over by the freestyle," he said.

"As for Michael, you can't ask for more than a gold medal and a world record, it was a great way to start of the meet for the USA."

Phelps's peerless form in the opening final of the Olympic competition had the admiration of his fellow swimmers.

Australia's world champion butterflyer Jessicah Schipper said of Phelps:" It was an awesome swim, he's just crazy.

"It's always great to see a great swimmer and to see someone take one step towards their goal is inspiring."