Phelps sets the standard as records tumble

Sunday, August 10: Pre-Games predictions that swimming world records would tumble in Beijing look to be more than just hype after Michael Phelps kicked off his Olympic campaign in remarkable fashion.

The American claimed the first of a potential eight gold medals in the pool by crushing the competition and shattering his own world record, set at the US Olympic trials in June, in the 400m individual medley.

He had some company over the first 300m of the race, but in the final two lengths he broke the challenge of Hungarian Laslo Cseh, who finished second, and fellow American Ryan Lochte, who claimed bronze.

Phelps eventually finished with a time of 4:03.83, almost a second-and-a-half faster than his, and the world's, previous best. Cseh came home 2.32 seconds later.

Not to be outdone by the men, Australia's Stephanie Rice won gold in the women's 400m individual medley with a new world record of her own - coming home in 4:29.45.

The United States team also set a new world best in the heats of 4x100m freestyle. They recorded a time of 3:12.23. What made it all the more remarkable is that the landmark was achieved by the Americans' second-string line-up.

LAST UPDATED 4:20 PM, AUGUST 10, 2008