by Darrell Moody

LONDON, UK -- Ryan Lochte won the gold medal in the 400-meter individual medley at the 2012 Summer Olympics Saturday.

Lochte, who hails from Port Orange, collected the United States' first gold medal of the Olympic Games.

Brazil's Thiago Pereira won the silver while Japan's

The former Florida Gator was not the favorite in the event.  In fact, Lochte wasn't even the favored American swimmer in the event.

Lochte beat out Michael Phelps who was considered among the favorites in the swimming competition.  Phelps finished fourth in Saturday's 400-meter final.   

Phelps is the most decorated of the American swimmers.  He won a record eight gold medals four years ago in Beijing and has a total of 16 Olympic medals for his career.

With Lochte's win, the U.S. medal count is now five including two silver and two bronze.

After the first full day of Olympic competition, China leads the medal count with a total of six.

 

In other state sports news:

• The Miami Marlins lost at home Saturday, falling to the San Diego Padres 4-2.  Jose Reyes was 1-for-4 from the plate with a two run homer in the second inning.  Nate Eovaldi allowed just one run on five hits and recorded five strikeouts to improve his record to 2-6.
  
• The Rays won on the road Saturday, shutting out the Los Angeles Angels 3-0. Ben Zobrist batted 1-for-2 with a run and two RBI.  Matt Moore pitched well in six-and-a-third innings, giving up just four hits while recording four strikeouts.  With the win, Moore improves to 7-7 for the year.