Michael Phelps cruised to an 8.68-second victory in the 400-yard individual medley at the Southern California Grand Prix meet on Sunday night, flirting with his American record before falling off the pace.

Phelps touched first in 3 minutes, 38.28 seconds - 2.02 seconds off his American mark set in 2006.

"It was all right," he said. "I would've liked to have gone a little faster."

The six-time Olympic gold medalist had an impediment, though. His goggles filled with water after he dived in.

(Shanghai Daily January 22, 2008)