Newz Forum: OLYMPICS: Phelps Wins First Gold in Record Time

ATHENS (Reuters) - Michael Phelps made the perfect start to his bid to win a record eight gold medals in Athens when he broke his own world record to win the 400 meters individual medley Saturday.

The American teen-ager pulled away from his rivals to win the gold in four minutes 08.26 seconds and shave 0.15 seconds off the previous mark of 4:08.41 which he set in California last month.

Erik Vendt finished second in 4:11.81 to complete a U.S. one-two while Hungary's Laszlo Cseh took the bronze in 4:12.15 but neither was able to mount a serious challenge to Phelps.

The 19-year-old from Baltimore, who is attempting to better Mark Spitz' record of seven gold medals at a single Olympics, set the fastest qualifying time for the final and blew his opponents away in the race for gold.

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This kid is talent, amazing what some of these youngsters can do.