It’s a bouyant beginning
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Look out, Mark Spitz. Michael Phelps has you in his sights.
Phelps began his quest to break one of sport’s most hallowed records with an electrifying performance — a world record in the 400-meter individual medley at the U.S. Olympic trials Wednesday night.
Not a bad way to show he’s serious about bettering Spitz’s seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Games.
“I’m very happy with the way I swam,” said the 19-year-old Phelps, who broke his own record with a time of 4 minutes, 8.41 seconds. “It’s always my goal going into a meet to do my best time.”
Phelps set the previous record of 4:09.09 at last year’s world championship in Barcelona, where he became the first swimmer in history to break five world records in one meet.
With that performance, it was clear Phelps had the potential to break Spitz’s record. He entered six individual events at the eight-day trials, a daunting schedule in this increasingly specialized sport.
But Phelps showed on Day 1 that he’s up to the task. He was off record pace through his first leg, the butterfly, but made up for it in the backstroke. He even had a chance to sneak a glimpse at the scoreboard, his first hint that a new mark was within reach.
“If there’s a clock there, I’m going to look,” Phelps said.
Sensing history, the crowd began chanting “Go! Go! Go!” each time he poked his head above water during the breaststroke. Finally, everyone rose to their feet as he finished things off in the freestyle.
When Phelps touched the wall, he quickly jerked his head around to find the scoreboard. When he saw the record, he pumped his left fist and wagged a finger.
“I’m here,” he said nonchalantly. “I might as well try to swim my best.”
The trials should be a good indicator for Athens, where Phelps also is likely to swim in two or three relays. Spitz won his seven golds in four individual events and three relays.
Phelps was relieved to make it through the first event in Long Beach, where the U.S. team is being determined at a temporary pool set up near the picturesque harbor.
“The trials are probably more stressful than the Olympic finals,” Phelps said.
The two individual medleys, which comprise all four strokes, seem the safest bets for Olympic gold. Phelps also holds the world record in the 200, where he has the five fastest times in history.
Erik Vendt finished second to Phelps in the 400 IM to likely claim a spot on the Olympic team. He knew all along that he had little chance of earning the top position.
“For me, getting second and making the team is just as good as winning,” said Vendt, who finished more than 5 1/2 seconds behind at 4:14.09.
Two other finals were held Wednesday evening — impressive performances in their own right, but overshadowed by Phelps’ record.
Klete Keller won the 400 freestyle with an American record of 3:44.19, more than 2 seconds ahead of Phelps’ mark set last August. Larsen Jensen settled for second at 3:46.56 — also lower than the previous record.
In the women’s 400 medley, 15-year-old Katie Hoff swam the second-fastest time in American history, 4:37.67. She tired a bit on the final freestyle leg, just missing Summer Sanders’ 12-year-old national record of 4:37.58.
Kaitlin Sandeno, an Olympic medalist and the fastest swimmer in the morning preliminaries, settled for second at 4:40.39.