Ryan Lochte got the better of rival Michael Phelps to win the 400-metre individual medley at the United States Olympic swimming trials.
Lochte took the glory in a time of four minutes 7.06 seconds in the first of a possible six finals in which the two men could clash, with the 100m and 200m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 200m medley and 100m butterfly still to come.
Phelps wasn't far behind in 4mins 07.89secs - he had led Lochte after the opening butterfly leg, but was overtaken on the backstroke.
Despite his success, Lochte was far from happy with his time.
"That time was not good at all, I know I'm capable of going way faster," he said. "There is definitely a lot of places during that race where I knew I could go as faster, I just didn't.
"But, I had to do what I had to do to get on the wall, and hopefully that will change in a month."
Lochte had been due to race in 11 individual events during the trials in Nebraska but has already pulled out of one, ditching the 400m freestyle.
Tyler Clary, who led the race at one point, completed the top three in 4:09.92.
Elsewhere, Peter Vanderkaay and Conor Dwyer sealed their places for London 2012 in the 400m freestyle, while Elizabeth Beisel and Caitlin Leverenz were first and second in the women's 400m medley.
