<p>The eight-day Olympic swimming programme starts with a bang tomorrow with US star Michael Phelps and his arch rival Ryan Lochte on a collision course in the men's 400m individual medley.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Phelps' haul of eight gold medals from the Beijing Olympics four years ago included the 400m medley title, but the 27-year-old swim legend was beaten by Lochte, the reigning world champion, at the US trials three weeks ago.<br /><br />Competition at the Aquatics Centre kicks off tomorrow morning with the men's medley heats, and the final is the first race of the evening session.<br /><br />Phelps is aiming to become the first male swimmer to win a gold medal in the same individual event in three successive Olympic Games and will not surrender his crown without a fight.<br /><br />"It's going to be a very challenging and exciting race, I have changed a few small things to see if it will help (since the US trials)," said Phelps, who has amassed 14 Olympic gold medals.<br /><br />"I am feeling good, I am feeling confident. It is going to be a fun one to start. You can guarantee it will be loud on opening night," said Phelps.<br /><br />Most interest centres on whether Phelps can repeat his golden Beijing form against the in-form Lochte, who took the 400m medley gold at last year's world championships in Shanghai, an event Phelps sat out.<br /><br />"For anyone who wants to promote swimming, there is not a better way in the world than for (Michael Phelps) to swim the first race in the first (swim) event at this Olympic games," said his coach Bob Bowman.<br /><br />"It will be a coaches' and spectators' dream to see how that shakes out."</p>
<p>The eight-day Olympic swimming programme starts with a bang tomorrow with US star Michael Phelps and his arch rival Ryan Lochte on a collision course in the men's 400m individual medley.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Phelps' haul of eight gold medals from the Beijing Olympics four years ago included the 400m medley title, but the 27-year-old swim legend was beaten by Lochte, the reigning world champion, at the US trials three weeks ago.<br /><br />Competition at the Aquatics Centre kicks off tomorrow morning with the men's medley heats, and the final is the first race of the evening session.<br /><br />Phelps is aiming to become the first male swimmer to win a gold medal in the same individual event in three successive Olympic Games and will not surrender his crown without a fight.<br /><br />"It's going to be a very challenging and exciting race, I have changed a few small things to see if it will help (since the US trials)," said Phelps, who has amassed 14 Olympic gold medals.<br /><br />"I am feeling good, I am feeling confident. It is going to be a fun one to start. You can guarantee it will be loud on opening night," said Phelps.<br /><br />Most interest centres on whether Phelps can repeat his golden Beijing form against the in-form Lochte, who took the 400m medley gold at last year's world championships in Shanghai, an event Phelps sat out.<br /><br />"For anyone who wants to promote swimming, there is not a better way in the world than for (Michael Phelps) to swim the first race in the first (swim) event at this Olympic games," said his coach Bob Bowman.<br /><br />"It will be a coaches' and spectators' dream to see how that shakes out."</p>