China dominates Olympic opening day

LONDON: Young swimmers Ye Shiwen and Sun Yang sent a message with record-breaking performances as China took charge of top spot on the London Olympics medal table from day one.

The powerful Chinese team picked up two swimming golds through Ye and Sun and also claimed top honours in women's weightlifting and shooting to show they would not easily give up the medal table ascendancy over the US they gained on home soil in 2008.

Sixteen-year-old Ye set the first world record of the Games as she came from behind to win the women's 400m individual medley in four minutes 28.43 seconds, beating Stephanie Rice's world mark from 2008 by more than one second.

Sun, 20, had earlier become the first male swimmer from his country to win a gold medal when he won the 400m freestyle in Olympic record time.

While they thrived, American superstar Michael Phelps' aura was dented as he was outclassed by American rival Ryan Lochte, who won his fourth career gold in commanding fashion in the 400m IM. Phelps, who finished fourth, said he did not find the gear he was looking for. "I'm a bit frustrated, I'm not feeling that great. I just want to put this race behind me and move on," he said.

Phelps, who has amassed 14 Olympic golds and two bronze medals over the years, is just two medals shy of equalling Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina's record of 18 medals.

Lochte clocked 4:05.18 seconds, streaking away from his rivals on the backstroke leg. "For four years I've been training hard. This is just my first event so I'm really happy. I'm ready to rock this Olympics," said Lochte, who is going for six gold medals at these Games.

Australia's women took gold in the women's 4x100m freestyle, ahead of the Netherlands and a disappointing US squad.

Basking in praise for the Olympic opening ceremony, host Great Britain's hope of a golden start to the Games were dashed by Alexandr Vinokourov of Kazakhstan, who upset the favourites to win the gold medal in the men's road race.

Britain's Mark Cavendish, rated the world's best sprinter, was expected to win but the host team could not reel in a series of breakaways and the 38-year-old Vinokourov out-sprinted Rigoberto Uran Uran of Colombia in the final stages.

"What a way to finish your career," said the 38-year-old Vinokourov, who served a two-year ban for blood doping after a positive test in 2007

The first gold of the Games went to world champion Yi Siling of China, who was mobbed and even shed a tear after claiming victory in the women's 10 metres air rifle shooting. "I felt like a movie star," said a delighted Yi who was mobbed by Chinese journalists.

China's fourth gold of the day went to favourite Wang Mingjuan in the women's weightlifting 48kg category. The four times world champion was competing in her first Olympic Games after missing out in 2004 and 2008.

In fencing, Italy swept the women's foil, with Elisa di Francisca defeating compatriot Arianna Errigo in the final. Valentina Vezzali had to settle for bronze after failing to become the first woman in Olympic history to win four gold medals in a row in the same event.

Italy won another gold in archery, while Brazil's Sarah Menezes and Arsen Galstyan of Russia triumphed against superior opponents to win judo golds.