BEIJING -- Michael Phelps of the United States swam to a world record timing, the fisrt at the Beijing Olympics, to win the men's 400m individual medley gold medal here Sunday morning.
Phelps timed in 4:03.84 to break his own world record of 4:05.25 for the first swimming gold medal at the Games. Laszlo Cseh of Hungary got the silver in 4:06.16 and Ryan Lochte of the United States finished third in 4:08.09.
Michael Phelps of the US competes in the heats of the men's 400m individual medley swimming competition at the National Aquatics Center during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 9, 2008. Phelps won the gold in the final. [Agencies]
Rice wins women's 400m medley
Stephanie Rice of Australia broke the world record to win the women's 400m individual medley gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games here on Sunday.
Rice clocked in the winning time of 4:29.45, which beat the previous record of 4:31.12 set up by American Katie Hoff on July 29, 2008.
Australia's Stephanie Rice celebrates after winning the women's 400m individual medley swimming final at the National Aquatics Center in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 10, 2008 in Beijing. Stephanie Rice of Australia broke the world record in the women's 400 metres individual medley in a time of four minutes 29.45 seconds at the Beijing Olympics on Sunday. [Agencies]
Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe finished second in 4:29.89, also within the previous world mark, and Hoff was placed third in 4:31.71.
