Rice claims first Aussie gold

Stephanie Rice has claimed Australia's first medal at the Beijing Olympics, winning gold in the women's 400 individual medley in a world record time of 4.29.45.

Rice blitzed her American rival and former world record holder Katie Hoff, reclaiming the record she set at the Australian trials earlier this year by 1.67 seconds.

It was Australia's first medal of the Games and the country's 400th in Olympic history.

Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe claimed silver from lane one in a time of 4:29.89 with Hoff third in 4:31.71.

Fellow American Elizabeth Beisel, who qualified fastest in the event, finished fourth in 4:34.24.

"I guess it hasn't really kicked in for me, but I know it's such an amazing achievement," Rice said after winning gold.

"I've worked so hard for it and I have no regrets for the preparation I've had.

"I've really given it my all and I'm so excited to have seen it all pay off."

Rice said she just stayed focused on her own race against a strong contingent of opponents.

"I was trying not to think about the end of the race, it was more about the process," she said.

"Going into that race, I've never been able to race Kirsty Coventry, and Katie Hoff and all those girls.

"So it was a new race for me and something I had to really go in to with a different mindset, and really focus on my own race, because everyone has different strengths."

Rice started brilliantly in the opening butterfly leg, swimming two seconds inside the world record time after the first 100 metres.

The Olympic debutant maintained her fantastic first half in the backstroke, stretching her lead over Hoff and 16-year-old Beisel, tipped as an outside threat for the gold medal after a stirring heat swim.

Turning into the penultimate breaststroke leg, Rice's weakest stroke, veteran Coventry looked to be her only threat while Hoff, a much stronger breaststroker, failed to rein in the deficit.

The outcome was purely academic by the time Rice turned into the final 100m freestyle leg, making the final turn 0.74 seconds under world record pace to motor home and kick-start Australia's campaign at the Water Cube.