Phelps reigns supreme

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-14 08:18

China's Han Peng (right) tries to stop Brazil's Ramires in a Group C match in Qinhuangdao yesterday. Brazil won 3-0. Zhang Wei

Five down, three to go and immortality is already his.

US swimmer Michael Phelps overcame a goggle glitch and surpassed such greats as Carl Lewis and Mark Spitz to win the most gold medals in Olympic history yesterday, taking his total haul of the precious metal to 11 from two Games.

Two more world records in the 200m butterfly and as a member of his country's 4x200m relay at the Water Cube (Page 4) kept his quest for an unprecedented eight gold at one Olympics alive and kicking.

Australia's Stephanie Rice reprised her victory and world record in the 400m individual medley with a close win in the 200 (Page 5), while Italian Federica Pellegrini took the women's 200m free in a race in which all three place getters shattered the former world record. Chinese swimmer Pang Jiaying was among them and her bronze was the hosts' first women's medal in the pool (Page 6).

Elsewhere, the Chinese women's gymnastics team won its first Olympic gold just a day after its men's team stood atop the podium.

The six youngsters won the eagerly anticipated clash with reigning world champion the US to clinch the title (Page 8).

Beijing native Chen Ying won the 25m pistol title in dramatic fashion, erasing a five-point deficit in the final to triumph (Page 12).

Luck did play a part, though, as leading shooter Gundegmaa Otryad of Mongolia suffered a pistol malfunction, allowing Chen to claw back the victory.

Swiss cyclist Fabian Cancellara burst from countryman Roger Federer's formidable shadow when he won his country's first gold of the Games, coming from behind to win the men's individual time trial to go two better than the bronze he snared in Saturday's road race (Page 13).

In the women's time trial, the US' Kristin Armstrong - no relation to cycling great Lance - clinched the gold.

China's diving domination continued with Qin Kai and Wang Feng's clear win in the men's synchronized springboard. (Page 10)

The pair's golden performance restored China's position at the top of the event after it was deposed in Athens four years ago.

South Korean weightlifter Sa Jaeh-youk ended China's winning streak in the competition, pipping the host nation's Li Yongli for the 77kg title (Page 11).

China had earlier won its sixth gold in the sport, when Liu Chunhong broke three records en route to winning the women's 69kg category.

Cuba caused an upset in women's volleyball yesterday, when it came from two sets down to beat defending champions China in a thrilling preliminary match (Page 16).

Meanwhile, recently beleaguered Roger Federer demonstrated his tennis career was back on track yesterday (Page 3).

He overcame Tomas Berdych in straight sets in the third round of the men's singles tennis tournament.

Cuba beat Japan last night in their much-anticipated clash at the Wukesong Baseball Main Field.

The Caribbean side won the closely fought game 4-2 in game 4 of the men's preliminaries (Page 15).

Germany struck double Olympic gold yesterday evening in the fencing arena with World Cup champions Benjamin Kleibrink victorious in the men's foil and Britta Heidemann winning the women's epee (Page 14).

Kleibrink, bronze winner at the 2007 World Championships in Russia and gold medalist at the Venice, Italy, World Cup 2007-08, scored a convincing win over Japan's Yuki Ota with a 15-9.

Heidemann defeated Romanian Ana Maria Branza in a 15-11 bout for her gold.

China Daily/Agencies

(China Daily 08/14/2008 page2)