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wire servicesMichael Phelps and the Australians, led by Ian Thorpe, create a memorable first night.
ATHENS - He walked in wearing an iPod and left wearing an olive wreath.
Michael Phelps might have regressed 2,800 years in technology, but he took a significant step forward in his quest to at least match Mark Spitz's seven gold medals by winning his first Saturday night. Phelps broke his world record in the 400-meter individual medley, winning in 4 minutes, 8.26 seconds. American Erik Vendt repeated his performance of the Sydney Olympics, taking second in 4:11.81.
"I saw the time, the world record, and I was pumped," Phelps said. "I heard (Vendt) scream . . . I looked over and looked up at the scoreboard and went nuts."
Then it was time for an Australian celebration. Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett finished one-two in the 400 freestyle. Thorpe defended his Olympic title in 3:43.10. Klete Keller repeated as bronze medalist and bettered his American record, finishing in 3:44.11.
Thorpe was a bundle of emotion, too, and he thanked Craig Stevens for making the win possible. Stevens stepped aside in favor of Thorpe after the Aussie star had false-started and been disqualified at their trials.
A rare disappointment for the Americans was the women finishing second in the 400 freestyle relay to the world-record-setting Australians (3:35.94). But the United States set a national record, 3:36.39. It was the first U.S. Olympic loss in that relay since 1988 and featured a rarity: Jenny Thompson losing a lead in the final leg. Still, Thompson tied the record for most career swimming medals. She has 11, equaling Spitz, Matt Biondi and Carl Osburn.
In the women's 400 IM, Yana Klochkova of Ukraine was another Sydney repeat (4:34.83). Second was Kaitlin Sandeno, whose 4:34.95 obliterated Summer Sanders' American record of 4:37.58 that had stood for more than 12 years.