Phelps swims for first of eight golds target

By Sean Maguire

BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. swimming sensation Michael Phelps races on Sunday for the first of the unprecedented eight Olympic golds he is targeting in the futuristic Water Cube pool.

Phelps left rivals in his wake in qualifying fastest for the morning final of the 400 meters individual medley, which he has called the weakest of his events despite breaking the world record in it seven times.

Even if Phelps wins only half of the five individual and three relay races he has entered, he will hold more Olympic gold medals than any other athlete. He won six golds in Athens in 2004 and has Mark Spitz's 1972 record of seven wins in his sights.

Phelps's prowess will help put the spotlight back on sporting achievement after a Games build-up dogged by accusations China backtracked on promises to improve human rights and by concerns heat and pollution would damage athletes' health.

A Chinese man stabbed to death the father-in-law of the U.S. men's volleyball coach at a tourist spot in Beijing on Saturday, casting a new pall over the Games which China hopes will be a showcase for its modern face and growing economic might.

The attacker committed suicide and his motive was unclear.

Distant crises lapped at the edges of the Games as well. Georgia's Olympic officials said they might withdraw their team amid consternation over conflict in the Caucasus between Georgian forces and Russia.

U.S. swimmers are well placed to win three of four finals in the Beijing pool on Sunday, the second day of full competition. There will be 14 golds awarded in swimming, shooting, cycling, weightlifting, judo, diving, archery and fencing.

Elizabeth Beisel, at 15 the youngest member of the U.S. squad, qualified fastest for the women's 400 individual medley and Larsen Jensen leads the challenge to take the 400 freestyle crown from retired 2000 and 2004 winner, Australian Ian Thorpe.

The top five qualifiers for the 400 freestyle final are separated by less than one second, promising a close race.

CHINESE AMBITION

China won two out of the three golds they expected on the first day, settling the nerves of the hosts who are hoping to outstrip the United States in the medal table for the first time.

They could win five more on Sunday, with favorites well placed in shooting, fencing and judo finals and in the pool.

Chinese diving queen Guo Jingjing, the supermodel of the springboard, steps up to defend her 3-metre synchronized title.

If Guo, China's best-known female athlete, retains the synchronized and individual titles she will hold more golds than any female diver. China dominates world diving and has a reasonable chance of winning all eight golds in the discipline.