Phelps Captures First Gold In Quest for History

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 9, 2008 9:09 PM CDT
Phelps Captures First Gold In Quest for History
Michale Phelps of United States celebrates after winning the gold.    (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Michael Phelps won his first gold medal of the Summer Olympics with a decisive victory in the 400-meters individual medley, Reuters reports. Phelps, who has a chance to win a record 8 golds in the Games, smashed his own world record—it lasted less than a day—with a time of 4:03.84. Laszlo Cseh of Hungary finished second, and USA's Ryan Lochte third.

The 23-year-old Phelps, whose next race is Monday in a relay, had said beforehand that tonight's race would probably be the toughest for him in the Games. President Bush was among those cheering him on in the stands. He now holds a career total of 7 gold medals, and he's trying to break Mark Spitz's record of 7 in a single Games. (More 2008 Beijing Olympics stories.)

Get breaking news in your inbox.
What you need to know, as soon as we know it.
Sign up
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X