Super swimming freak Michael Phelps won his first gold of the 2008 Beijing Olympics on Sunday in the 400-meter individual medley. He completed the race in 4 minutes - 3.84 seconds breaking his own world record of 4 minutes - 5.25 seconds.

With President Bush cheering him on, Phelps dominated his first event of the Beijing Olympics on Sunday morning, crushing his own world record and all hopes of his challengers with a mark of 4 minutes, 3.84 seconds in the 400-meter individual medley.

“I’m not downplaying this race by any means, but I have to put that race behind me,” Phelps said. “I have to act like it never happened because I have so many tough races ahead of me.”

One down, seven to go for Phelps in his quest for eight Olympic gold medals. American Mark Spitz holds the record for most at a single Olympics with seven golds at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany.

2008 Beijing Gold Medal Checklist for Phelps

• 400-Meter Individual Medley - GOLD
• 4×100- Meter Free Relay - GOLD
• 200-Meter Freestyle - GOLD
• 200-Meter- Butterfly - GOLD
• 4×200-Meter Free Relay - GOLD
• 200-Meter Individual Medley - GOLD
• 100-Meter Butterfly - GOLD
• 4×100-Meter Medley Relay - GOLD

More Photos of Record Setting Olympian Michael Phelps

[images: WENN]