Phelps becomes leading Olympian as more records tumble (Roundup)

By Peter Auf der Heyde Aug 13, 2008, 15:07 GMT

Beijing - Michael Phelps rewrote the Olympic record books on Wednesday when he won his 10th and 11th gold medals in another awesome swimming session as six more world records tumbled.

Phelps and China continue to dominate the medals table - the hosts won four more golds with success in the women's gymnastics team event, women's weightlifting, men's synchronised diving and women's shooting.

China took their gold tally to 17, seven ahead of second-placed USA, whose 10 golds include the five Phelps has now won in Beijing. It was also a proud day for Georgia who won two golds in judo and wrestling.

American superstar Phelps became the all-time leading Olympian in a world record time in the men's 200m butterfly and then led the US 4x200m relay team into a new dimension in the sport.

His 11th gold medal lifted him two clear atop the all-time list, past Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, Finnish athlete Paavo Nurmi, US swimmer Mark Spitz and US athlete Carl Lewis, who all have nine.

Phelps said the realization that he had made history left him speechless. 'Growing up, all I wanted to do was become an Olympian. And now to be the leading Olympian. Well, I suppose that's a pretty cool title to have.'

Phelps now needs three golds from his remaining three races to win an unprecedented eight golds at one Games.

His time of 1 minute 52.03 seconds in the 200m butterfly was six hundredths faster than the record he set at the world championships in Melbourne last year, and his 25th career world record.

And he believes he can set even quicker times. He added: 'I know I can go faster, but I had some water in my goggles. I couldn't see anything for the last 100 metres.'

Less than an hour later, Phelps helped the US 4x200m freestyle relay team become the first team to swim under seven minutes as they took an astonishing 4.68 seconds off their own world record set in Melbourne at the world championships last year.

The US won in a time of 6:58.56, while Russia took silver in 7:03.70, and Australia bronze with 7:04.98.

Stephanie Rice of Australia won gold in the women's 200m medley, edging out Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry in the final metres and earlier in the session, Federica Pellegrini won the women's 200m freestyle gold with another world record-breaking time of 1:54.82.

Slovenian Sara Isakovic won an unlikely first-ever swimming medal for her country as she took silver while Pang Yiaying was a popular bronze medal winner for the hosts in a time 1:55.05 as all three medallists bettered the old record.

The world bests also fell in semi-finals with Frenchman Alain Bernard taking back the 100m freestyle world record he had lost two days earlier to Australian Eamon Sullivan who then reclaimed the record in the next semi-final, when he swam a 47.05.

Away from the swimming China's glorious games continued with four more golds. First their women's gymnastic team prevailed over reigning world champion the United States to win a first ever Olympic gold medal in the event.

Liu Chunhong followed that up with success in the women's weightlifting 69kg class, Wang Feng and Qin Kai won the men's 3m synchronised diving and Chen Ying won the women's shooting 25m air pistol

In cycling, former world champion Kristin Armstrong of the United States captured gold in the women's road time trial and there was Swiss gold for Fabian Cancellara in the men's individual time trial. While in wrestling Steeve Guenot of France won the men's Greco-Roman 66kg class.

A fencing double enabled Germany to take their gold haul to six with Benjamin Kleibrink beating Japan's Yuki Ota and Britta Heidemann beating Romania's Ana Maria Branza to win the men and women's individual events.

But perhaps the biggest smiles on day six were on Georgian faces as they won their first two gold medals with Manuchar Kvirkelia triumphing in Greco-Roman wrestling and Irakli Tsirekidze taking gold in judo an hour later.

Georgia now has the same amount of Beijing golds as Russia and earlier in the day they even enjoyed a three set win over their mighty northern neighbours in beach volleyball.

The gold medal double came as hostilities appeared to have ended after five days of fighting between Russia and Georgia.

'This victory is important for me and Georgia. I would like to dedicate this medal to the people of Georgia,' said Kvirkelia.

'I proved the existence of Georgia in the world with my gold,' he said.

Kvirkelia paraded the floor with his nation's flag while Tsirekidze clutched a black armband to his heart during the victory ceremony.