US swimmer Michael Phelps picks up first gold medal

Beijing: US swimmer Michael Phelps clinched his first gold on Sunday, winning the 400-metre men's individual medley with a new world record.

Phelps raced to the winner's podium with a new world record time of 4 minutes, 3.84 seconds.

Hungary's Laszlo Cseh of took the silver in 4:06.16, while American compatriot, Ryan Lochte came in third in 4:08.09.

"That was a pretty emotional race," Phelps said. "I knew it was going to be a tough race all the way through."

On the women's side, Australia's Stephanie Rice won the 400 individual medley also in a world record time of 4:29.45. Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe was second in 4:29.89, and Katie Hoff of the United States took bronze in 4:31.71.