Phelps wins first gold

Michael Phelps underlined his determination to dominate the swimming with the destruction of the world record in the 400 metres Individual Medley as he picked up his first gold of the 2008 Beijing Games.

Phelps, who is looking to surpass Mark Spitz’s long-standing record of seven golds at a single Olympics, was under world-record pace right from the start and eclipsed his own mark by an astonishing 1.41 seconds with a time of 4 minutes 3.84 seconds.

Hungarian Lazlo Cseh touched in second place in a European record time of 4:06.16, while Ryan Lochte took third, almost two seconds further adrift as Phelps decimated the field.

Australian Stephanie Rice matched Phelps by destroying the world record in the women’s 400 metres Individual Medley.

Rice and Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry became the first women to go under 4:30 while Katie Hoff from the United States finished third, just outside the world record she set at the American trials.

Australian star Grant Hackett saw his hopes of a medal in the 400m freestyle dashed by South Korean Park Tae-hwan, who took gold in a time of 3:41.86 ahead of China’s first medallist in the pool, Zhang Lin, and American Larsen Jensen.

The Netherlands claimed gold in an Olympic record time of 3:33.76 in the women’s 4 x 100m freestyle.

China picked up their fourth medal of the Games when world number one Guo Wenjun triumphed in the women’s 10m Air Pistol with an Olympic record final score of 492.3.

Russia’s Natalia Paderina claimed silver with a total of 489.1 and Nino Salukvadze of Georgia took bronze with 487.4.

Dzhon-Robert Kholden scored 19 points as Russia kicked off their basketball campaign with a 71-49 Group A win over Iran.

In Group B, Germany made short work of Angola as Christopher Kaman top-scored with 24 and Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks added 23 in the 95-66 win.

Australia lead the Equestrian Eventing competition with 102.80 penalties, ahead of Germany on a score of 110.50, while the United States are in third on 115.60.

Lucinda Fredericks leads the individual competition on 30.4 from Karin Donckers of Belgium’s mark of 31.70.