Phelps starts with a bang

Michael Phelps isn't messing around.

He is The Man this week at the Water Cube (pictured here), a gorgeous venue, especially at night when it can change colors.

Phelps blasted his own world record in the 400 individual medley in the first final of these Games Saturday night, winning the event going away. American Ryan Lochte was third.

The medal ceremony was cute. Phelps was blinking back tears as a pre-recorded version of the national anthem played and the U.S. flag was hoisted.

Then, just at the "O'er the land of the free" part, the recording malfunctioned and ended suddenly. It sounded a little like one of those old vinyl records when someone would just rip the needle to the end. Phelps broke up laughing, as did most of the crowd.