LONDON, (Reuters) – American swimming great Michael Phelps looks to win his opening medal of the London Olympics today after suffering his first finish outside the top three in a Games final since he was 15.
The U.S. face a tough task in the 4×100 metres freestyle relay against an Australian team boasting the fastest two men in the world.
But there should be a medal of some colour for Phelps who is bidding to add three to his tally to overtake Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina’s record haul of 18.
Phelps must bounce back from a disappointing fourth place in the 400 individual medley in a race won by compatriot Ryan Lochte who now appears to have displaced his long-time rival as the best all-round swimmer in the world.
It was the first time Phelps had missed out on a medal at the Olympics since he was a 15-year-old at Sydney in 2000.
Having won a record eight golds in Beijing four years ago, he could on Saturday have become the first male swimmer to win the same event at three successive Games. That honour could now go to Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima in the 100 breaststroke.
Kitajima won the 100 and 200 breaststroke double at Athens in 2004 and Beijing four years later. He qualified for today’s final sixth fastest overall, with South Africa’s Cameron Van Der Burgh setting the fastest time.
Like Phelps, host nation Britain are still seeking their first medal after world champion Mark Cavendish was outmanoeuvred and upstaged in the cycling road race by Kazakhstan’s Alexandre Vinokourov.
Their best hope is in the pool where Rebecca Adlington defends her 400 freestyle title against Italian glamour girl Federica Pellegrini and world number one Camille Muffat of France.
But Britain also have chances to make amends in the women’s cycling road race where holder Nicole Cooke faces Italian world champion Giorgia Bronzini and Dutchwoman Marianne Vos who is hoping finally to land gold after five consecutive world championship silvers.
Yesterday’s first full day of competition belonged to China who topped the medals table with four golds including two imperious performances in the pool.
