OLYMPICS
Phelps begins his medal quest with a world record
400 IM marks fall at U. S. swim trials as Hoff wins, too
OMAHA, Neb. — Holding off one of his best friends, Michael Phelps started his second attempt to break Mark Spitz’s Olympic record of seven gold medals with another epic swim.
Less than an hour later, the teenager he compares to a little sister joined Phelps in the record book.
Phelps set a world record in his first event of the U. S. Olympic swimming trials, touching just ahead of Ryan Lochte to win the 400-meter individual medley in 4 minutes, 5.25 seconds Sunday night.
Katie Hoff matched her former North Baltimore teammate in the 400 IM, taking down the women’s mark in 4:31.12.
What a start to the eight-day meet.
Wearing the high-tech Speedo LZR Racer, Phelps beat his own mark of 4:06.22, set at last year’s world championships in Australia when he turned in one of the greatest performances in swimming history with seven gold medals.
After saying he had no fear of Phelps, Lochte proved it by also going under the previous record. But his time of 4:06.08 was only good for second with Phelps in the next lane.
“That was probably one of the most painful races of my life,” Phelps said. “Everything was left in the pool. I definitely would not have been able to do it without Lochte beside me.
“He’s a great friend and a great competitor. I love racing him.”
The 19-year-old Hoff — playfully described by Phelps as the little sister he never had — showed no signs of the nervousness that ruined her first trip to the Olympics four years ago. The youngest member of the U. S. team, she was overcome by the moment and threw up on deck after failing to advance from her first event.
All grown up, Hoff dipped under record pace on the breaststroke leg and held on with her freestyle to beat Stephanie Rice’s mark of 4:31.46, set in March at the Australian Olympic trials.
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