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PHELPS TAKES OFF IN STYLE

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-10 11:38

Michael Phelps of the US starts his heat in the men's 400m Individual medley at the National Aquatics Center yesterday. REUTERS

Beijing's Water Cube witnessed unusually fast heats on its first competition day yesterday. Olympic champions were either pushed to set new records or edged to lower ranks by less famous swimmers.

But not Michael Phelps, the American superstar who begins his quest for eight gold medals today.

He set a new Olympic record in the men's 400m individual medley in his first race in Beijing.

"I didn't expect the heats could be so fast," he said later. After seeing the first two heats, I just wanted to be the top seed for tomorrow.

"I am pretty surprised. I didn't think that I'd be the first to get it (new Olympic record), not until the finals."

Phelps secured a center lane by downing his own Olympic record at 4:07.82. His main opponent today will be teammate Ryan Lochte, who placed fourth in the heats. Hungarian Laszlo Cseh, who ranked second in the heats, also has a shot at the top three places.

In the men's 400m freestyle, China's Zhang Lin edged Park Taehwan, the South Koeran medal hope, to the third with a new Asian record (See sidebar). Australian swimmer Grant Hackett, current world's No 1, entered the final as the fifth fastest. American Larsen Jensen entered the final as the top seed with a new Americas record.

In the men's 100m breaststroke, world record holder American Brendan Hansen was edged to the ninth place. Five swimmers broke the old Olympic record of 1:00.01 in the heats that were headed by Norwegian Alexander Dale Oen.

"I didn't think I was going that slow," Hansen said after the heat. "It's like we'are playing a big card game and all those guys are showing their hands. We got a lot of peacocks showing their feathers."

Other overshadowed "big fish" included Olympic Champion Australia's Libby Trickett, who ranked 12th in the women's 100m butterfly.

"I am expecting to be faster tonight," said Trickett, who is currently ranked No1.

Veteran Olympian Kirsty Conventry ranked seventh in the women's 400m individual medley, behind 14-year-old Chinese swimmer Li Xuanxun. Olympic debutante American Elizabeth Beisel, who will turn 16 on Aug 18, beat her teammate, top favorite Katie Hoff, ranking first in the heat.

The Chinese women were Asian record-breakers yesterday. Their 4x100m freestyle relay team was the fastest in qualifying for the finals in 3:36.78, ahead of Germany, USA, France, the Netherlands and Australia while Zhou Yafei qualified for today's semifinal of the 100m butterfly in 57.70.

Xinhua

(China Daily 08/10/2008 page14)