BEIJING — Mark Spitz? History is calling. Line one.
If the first gold-medal swim race of the Olympics is any indication, your name in the Olympic record book is about to be replaced.
Michael Phelps, swimming as if sharks were chasing him, launched his assault on Spitz’s record seven gold medals here this morning in spectacular fashion.
With President Bush in attendance, Phelps’ time of 4 minutes, 3.84 seconds in the 400 individual medley shattered his own world record of 4:05.25 set at the Olympic Trials. He clobbered Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh, whose 4:06.16 still set a European record, while Ryan Lochte of the U.S. faded late and settled for the bronze in 4:08.09.
“I can’t express how excited I am to start off with that event and have it turn out the way it did and with the time I put up,” Phelps said.
The usually stoic Phelps wept on the medal stand. He and the president waved to each other after his mark was posted, and then later he broke down. Despite the predictions he will match Spitz, this year hasn’t been easy. Phelps, 23, broke his wrist last fall and sprained his ankle shortly before the Olympic Trials.
“I wanted to sing on the medal podium but I couldn’t stop crying,” Phelps said. “Every time, I started thinking about everything that happened this year. The ups and downs I’ve had, Ryan’s coming on like a freight train. I was happy to get the first one under my belt.”
He may be emotional because he knows Spitz’s record at one Olympics is well within reach. Today’s start was huge, and Phelps knew it. Not only is the 400 IM his most demanding race, but Lochte represents his biggest individual challenge in the Olympics. Lochte’s 4:06.08 at the Trials was the second-best time ever, and he felt his good friend was vulnerable.
At times, Phelps looked it. Cseh led after the first 50 meters of the butterfly, the first stroke, and Lochte led after the first 50 of the backstroke, the third stroke. But Phelps regained the lead after the backstroke and was already .82 of a second ahead of world-record pace.
“I wasn’t comfortable after the first 200 after seeing everyone so close together,” Phelps said. “Usually, that’s not how it is after the first 200. It’s after the first 300. But I think it made my breaststroke a lot stronger.”
By the freestyle, the final 100, Phelps had half a body length on Lochte and no one would catch him after that.
“I went out too fast,” said Lochte, who took the silver in the event four years ago in Athens. “I knew I had to go out a lot faster in that race. I did my best. I can’t ask for anything else.”
So, one down, seven to go. It also appears to be the last 400 IM of Phelps’ career. He announced that he wants to try other races, such as more freestyle and backstroke events.
When he told his coach, Bob Bowman, of his plans after the race, Bowman said it would be OK, but only if Phelps set a world record.
“I talked to him after the race and he said, ‘We’ll have to talk,’ ” Phelps said. “I said, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa. That’s not what you said!’ ”
Still, the world will see plenty of Phelps in the pool this week.
John Henderson: 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com
