Ryan Lochte has captured the first gold medal for the United States at London 2012 in the 400m Individual Medley.

Lochte took the lead from the outset and spent most of the race flirting with world record pace. He opened up the gap when the swimmers transitioned to the backstroke, it was clear that Lochte would capture the gold, it was simply a matter of whether or not he would break the world record.

Teammate Michael Phelps finished off the podium after a weak qualifying session. It’s his first Olympic final without a medal since Sydney 2000.

Phelps still holds the world record in the 400m IM, but had a poor qualifying round which put him in the eighth lane for the final.

The USA’s medal count sits at two with the gold medal from Lochte and a silver from the men’s team Archery competition.