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Olympics

American Michael Phelps equaled the record for the most Olympic gold medals in history by claiming his third gold medal.

The 23-year-old, who won six gold medals in Athens, set a world record in the men's 200-metres freestyle with a time of one minute 42.96 seconds to win his ninth Olympic title, equalling the record jointly held by Mark Spitz, athletes Carl Lewis and Paavo Nurmi as well as gymnast Larissa Latynina.

Phelps, who also earned golds in the 400m individual medley and the 4x100m freestyle relay, smashed his own previous mark of 1min 43.86secs, which was set last year.

South Korea's Park Taeh-wan claimed silver after touching in 1:44.85, and American Peter Vanderkaay finished with a time of 1:45.14 to earn the bronze.

The star of these Games thus far, Phelps is aiming for eight gold medals, which would surpass the seven claimed by Spitz at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

Phelps stayed on course for a fourth title in Beijing by progressing to the final of the 200m butterfly, clocking an Olympic record of 1:53.70 in the semi-final.

American Aaron Peirsol smashed his own world record to win the 100m backstroke title.

Liam Tancock, the world record holder in the 50m event, led the field at the turn with a split well inside world-record pace but the early exertions caught up with the 23-year-old and he was steadily reeled in by Peirsol and the rest of the field.

Peirsol touched the wall in a time of 52.54 secs, 0.35 secs under the mark set at the US trials in July, to finish ahead of compatriot Matt Grevers and Russian Arkady Vyatchanin, who took the bronze medal.

Australian world champion Leisel Jones won the 100m breaststroke title, winning by well over 1.5 seconds from American Rebecca Soni and setting a new Olympic record of 1:05.17 in the process.

Soni finished in a time of 1 min 06.73, ahead of Austrian Mirna Jukic in third place.

American Natalie Coughlan successfully defended the 100m backstroke title she won in Athens.

Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry claimed her second silver medal of the games, finishing just 0.2 secs behind Coughlan with another American Margaret Hoelzer in third.