Forgive me if this Olympic blog is beginning to take the form of a Michael Phelps fan site, but powers greater than mine are controlling such matters!

The swimming schedules have been altered for American viewers with morning finals the day after heats so they can watch their superstars chase gold medals. It's the first time this has happened since Seoul 1988. Would this affect Phelps' pursuit of a record eight golds? Is he a morning person?

Yes it would, yes he is? Phelps produced probably the most impressive swim I have ever witnessed in the 400m individual medley. Mastering every stroke with strength and confidence, Phelps left nothing in bed as he rocketed to a new world record time 4:03.84min, a remarkable 1.41 seconds quicker than his previous record. It was nothing short of phenomenon.

Before the games began I agreed with those critics who thought eight golds in eight days was too much to ask. I will now retract that statement! Phelps looked so strong, and has a superb ability to recover from competition in time for the next. This includes psychological and metabolic recovery. I wonder whether he uses hydrotherapy alternating between hot and cold water immersion to keep him feeling sharp. With that in mind, I think he will win all five individual races, including the 100m butterfly where he goes head-to-head against team-mate Ian Crocker. Then it will be down to his team-mates to help win those relays.

Elsewhere in the women's 400m individual medley Aussie Stephanie Rice usurped American rival Katie Hoff, with whom she's exchanged world records with throughout the season, to claim the magical gold and yet another new world record time of 4:29.45, 1.67 seconds quicker than the Hoff's previous record!

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