Michael Phelps , Breaks 400 Meter Swim Record video

Euphoria and disappointment, two world records, tears and triumph, Katie Hoff and a lot of Michael Phelps made for a very big splash Sunday at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in front of 12,064 at the Qwest Center's indoor pool.

It started with Phelps and figures to continue with him for the next seven days, or one day for every gold medal he hopes to win at the Beijing Olympics in his pursuit of the record seven that were won by Mark Spitz during an era of smaller crowds and much smaller suits.
"I definitely started the meet off on the right foot," Phelps said.

Left foot, both hands, shoulders, legs and a high-tech Speedo LZR suit, too.

Phelps needed that and more to hold off friend and rival Ryan Lochte. Phelps broke his own world record, his first in an LZR, in the fastest-ever 400 individual medley. The crowd cheered almost as if the Cornhuskers were playing football down the freeway in Lincoln. The trials' first event was a dramatic contest in an event Phelps has ruled without challenge for years.

But Lochte, of Daytona Beach, Fla., was right there with him at the 300-meter mark, the turn between breaststroke and freestyle. Only over the last 20 meters was Phelps able to push to an insurmountable advantage for a finish of 4:05.25, less than a second ahead of Lochte (4:06.08). Both times were better than Phelps' world mark of 4:06.22, set April 1, 2007.

Michael Phelps Breaks 400 Meter Swim Record video



It still is Phelps' record. But it doesn't figure to stand for long, probably not past the rematch in August at the Beijing Games. Not with Lochte there, shoulder to shoulder if not exactly stroke for stroke.

"I felt him coming up on me in the last 50, but I hit the wall first," said Phelps, who wore only the bottom half of the Speedo suit that has stirred up world-class waters.

Not to be outdone was Hoff, Phelps' former teammate at North Baltimore Aquatics. Hoff didn't expect to do what Phelps seems to do all the time.

"No, Michael is kind of a world-record machine," she said.

Hoff finished the 400 IM in 4:31.12, breaking a world mark of 4:31.46 set March 22 by Australia's Stephanie Rice. Elizabeth Beisel of Rhode Island qualified for the second Olympic spot in the event at 4:32.87. Caitlin Leverenz, a 17-year-old from Tucson, was fourth at 4:38.54.

"It was just an amazing field, absolutely amazing," said Leverenz, whose best shot at the U.S. team is in the 200 breaststroke. "This was my first Olympic event. I just wanted to have fun."

For Leverenz, there was a reason to celebrate a debut. But for Klete Keller, there was disappointment in a futile attempt to gain a shot at a third consecutive Olympic medal in the 400 freestyle.

Keller, of the former Phoenix Swim Club, won bronze in the event in 2000 and again in 2004. But there will be no chance for a third medal in the 400 free in Beijing. Keller finished fourth, fading after an early and uncharacteristic lead. Larsen Jensen, Keller's teammate at Trojan Swim Club in Los Angeles, won in an American-record 3:43.53, which also broke Keller's U.S. Olympic Trials mark of 3:44.19. Peter Vanderkaay of Ann Arbor, Mich., qualified for the second Olympic spot at 3:43.73.

Keller finished at 3:46.36, behind third-place Erik Vendt (3:43.92).

"It's a big disappointment," Keller said. "I'm going to soak up the atmosphere for the rest of this meet."

The atmosphere includes another chance. Keller is entered today in prelims for the 200 free. In the 2004 Olympics, he held off Australian Ian Thorpe for a U.S. gold in a wild finish to the 4 x200 free relay.

If he finishes among the top six in the 200 free, Keller puts himself in line for another shot.