American Ryan Lochte Wins First Gold for USA

Swimmer Ryan Lochte is the first American to strike gold at the 2012 London Olympics. Lochte took the top spot in the Men's 400-meter individual medley. Fellow American Michael Phelps finished a surprising fourth. Lochte defeated Phelps in the same event at the US Olympic Trials last month in Omaha.

With First Lady Michelle Obama watching it looked like a Phelps-Lochte showdown through the first two legs. But Lochte was better in the butterfly — one of Phelps' signature strokes. And then the Florida swimmer blew away the two-time defending Olympian champion in the backstroke.

"Four years is a long time," Lochte told British television in a reference to the Beijing Games. "I know this is my time. I'm just going out there and having fun and doing what I do best: racing."

Brazil's Thiago Pereira won the silver while Kosuke Hagino of Japan chased down Phelps to win the bronze.

[SanJoseMercury News.com]