400m medley record kick-starts Phelps campaign

Michael Phelps broke his own world record in the 400m individual medley to book his first berth for the Athens Olympics, but the 19-year-old American didn't take long to savor the moment.

Michael Phelps broke his own world record in the 400m individual medley on Wednesday to book his first berth for the Athens Olympics, but the 19-year-old American didn't take long to savor the moment.

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"The 400m IM is a draining event," Phelps said, who made it look easy as he cruised to victory over Erik Vendt in 4min 08.41sec. "To be able to have that out of the way is nice. I'm ready to move on to tomorrow and the 200m freestyle."

Phelps improved on the world record of 4:09.09 he set at the World Championships in Barcelona on July 27 last year, but it was just the first step in his bid to qualify for Athens in six individual events at the eight-day US Olympic trials.

"It's one step," Phelps said of the race that energized the crowd at the 10,000-seat temporary facility in downtown Long Beach that is hosting the event.

Phelps said he knew from the roars of the crowd that he was on world record pace. He also couldn't resist sneaking a peek at the scoreboard on the backstroke leg of the demanding four-stroke event.

"Oh yeah, if a clock's there I'm going to look," he said. "

Phelps, world record-holder in both the 200m and 400m medleys, said he believed he had improved in all facets of the IM since he won both titles at last year's world championships.

"I think all of my strokes have improved in the past year, technique-wise and hopefully speed-wise," he said.

But he said there was room for even more improvement in Athens.

"I think there are a few things I could fix in this race," he said. "Hopefully I could find another hundredth (of a second) in there ... or a few tenths."