Sun Aug 25, 5:41 AM ET

YOKOHAMA, Japan - World record holder Michael Phelps of the United
States won the gold medal Sunday in the 400-meters individual medley
final at the Pan Pacific swimming championships.



The 17-year-old Phelps, who set a world record and collected four
gold medals at the U.S. championships just over a week ago in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida, won America's second gold medal of the meet in a
championship record 4 minutes, 12.48 seconds.

Compatriot Erik Vendt was second in 4:13.15 and Japan's Takahiro Mori
gave the home fans a charge, winning the bronze in 4:16.35.

In the next race, Natalie Coughlin overhauled fellow American Jenny
Thompson ( news - web sites) and held out Australia's Petria Thomas
to win the women's 100 butterfly in 57.88 seconds. Coughlin's win
made it 2-for-2 for the United States on Sunday and increased the
American gold total to three.

Thomas placed second in 58.11 and Thompson was third in 58.64.

Phelps opened up an early lead over the first 200 meters and was
almost a half second under world record pace at the Yokohama pool,
but Vendt made it close with a strong second half and took a brief
lead in the breaststroke leg.

"I would have liked to go a bit faster," said Phelps. "But overall
tonight, I think we're off to a good start. The race felt really
hard ... it was nice to finish 1-2."

Phelps set the world mark of 4:11.09 in the 400 IM and swam the third
fastest time in history in the 200 IM in Florida.

The native of Baltimore, Maryland, is also looking to break his world
record time of 1:54.58 in the 200 butterfly final Tuesday night.

Heading into the Pan Pacs he was referred to by some as America's
answer to Ian Thorpe ( news - web sites), who won two of Australia's
four gold medals on Saturday.

Diana Munz prevented an Australian sweep Saturday, winning America's
first gold in the women's 1,500 freestyle.