• London 2012 - Swimming

Phelps narrowly avoids early elimination

ESPN staff
July 28, 2012

Defending champion Michael Phelps scraped into the final of the 400m individual medley on the opening day of London 2012.

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Phelps, who won eight golds at the Beijing Games in 2008, won a slow heat by just 0.07 seconds ahead of Hungary's Laszlo Cseh, silver medallist four years ago.

Phelps' team-mate, the reigning world champion Ryan Lochte, was the third fastest qualifier behind Japan's Kosuke Hagino (4:10.01) and Chad le Clos.

"I didn't expect those guys to go that fast [but] a final spot is a final spot," Phelps said. "I was slower this morning than I was four years ago, so I guess that's probably the only difference.

"I think the only thing that matters is really getting a spot in [the final]. You can't win the gold medal from the morning."

There were some promising performances from British swimmers on the first day of action in the Aquatics Centre. Hannah Miley qualified for Saturday night's 400m individual medley final by winning her heat, while Fran Halsall and Ellen Gandy eased into the 100m butterfly semi-finals, finishing second in their respective heats.

They will be up against American Dana Vollmer, who set a new Olympic record when she finished in a time of 56.25 seconds.

Michael Jamieson and Craig Benson progressed in the 100m breaststroke, while David Carry reached the final of the 400m freestyle.

The women's 4x100m freestyle relay team qualified for Saturday's final, finishing fourth in their heat, which was won by USA.

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