Phelps Takes Gold With World Record

The Olympic swimming finals got off to storming start when American Michael Phelps broke his own world record to claim gold in the 400metres individual medley, while Australia's Ian Thorpe just held off team-mate Grant Hackett to win gold in the 400m freestyle.

Nineteen-year-old Phelps left his rivals trailing in his wake as he won in a time of four minutes and 08.26 seconds, shaving 15-hundredths of a second off the previous record which he set at the American trials in July.

Fellow American Erik Vendt claimed the silver, finishing more than three seconds behind Phelps in 4mins 11.81secs, with Hungary's Laszlo Cseh clocking 4:12.15 to take the bronze.

Phelps got off to quite a start in his quest to eclipse Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Games. The 19-year-old from Baltimore could get eight chances - five individual events and three relays.

Phelps' first final was one of his surest bets. Last month, he improved his own world record at the U.S. trials - a time that was nearly four seconds faster than anyone else in the world this year coming into Athens.

It was then the turn of Ian Thorpe to show that anything the American can do, he can do too, as he successfully defended his Olympic 400m freestyle crown, taking gold in a time of three minutes and 43.10 seconds.

This time there was no repeat of the embarrassing false start which almost cost the 21-year-old Australian the chance to defend his title.

Thorpe was disqualified at the Australian trials when he tumbled off the blocks before the gun had sounded and was only allowed to swim the event in Athens after his team-mate Craig Stevens surrendered his spot.

Dressed in his familiar all-black swimsuit and yellow cap, Thorpe was in tears after only just holding off Aussie team-mate Grant Hackett who won silver with a time of 3:43.36.

The bronze went to American Klete Keller in 3:44.11 - an Americas record.

The first women's final saw Yana Klochkova of Ukraine live up to her top billing as she put in a gutsy display to successfully defend her 400m individual medley with a time of 4:34.83.

The last swimming final of the day was won by Australia, who held off USA to claim gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay. Holland took bronze.