US dominates as Phelps bags 16th swim gold

Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from England

American swim sensation Michael Phelps extended his world record for most number of Olympic medals to 20 at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in Stratford here last night. With the latest addition to his ever-growing collection of Olympic medals, he has a rich tally of 20 from Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Games.

He claimed the 16th Olympic gold medal of his amazing career and 20th in total with an exciting win in the men's 200m individual medley.

Phelps led from start to finish and held off fast-finishing USA team-mate Ryan Lochte down the final freestyle leg to win in one minute and 54.27 seconds, just 0.04 outside his own Olympic record.

Thus, Phelps became the first man to win the event at three successive Games and came just 48 hours after he won his 18th and 19th Olympic medals to overtake Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina, who held the previous record with 18. Phelps dazzling performance was a treat to watch and yours truly had the rare privilege of following those great performance of Phelps last three successive Olympic Games.

Lochte, who had been forced to settle for bronze in the 200m backstroke final 30 minutes earlier, took silver in 1:54.90, with Hungary's Laszlo Cseh taking bronze. Later on, the Netherlands' Ranomi Kromowidjojo ensured there would not be a USA clean sweep of the four finals, powering to victory in the 100m Freestyle and lowering her Olympic record - to 53.00 seconds.

The 21-year-old was only fourth at the turn but stormed down the final length to finish ahead of Aliaksandra Herasimenia and China's Yi Tang. With ten swimming finals, including men's and women's 10km marathons yet to be worked off from this evening, USA takes a commanding lead in the swimming competition. The Americans have so far won 11 swimming gold medals (23 in total) to China's four golds (nine in total).

Of the four finals that were down for decision under lights on Thursday night, the Americans bagged three gold medals, a silver and a bronze while could pocket only a solitary bronze medal. Japan won two silver medals in swimming last night. The only non-American to strike a gold last night was Kromowidjojo.

Apart from Phelps, his team mates Soni Rebecca (a world record timing of two minutes and 19.59 seconds in women's 200m breast stroke) and Clary Tyler (an Olympic record timing of 1:53.41 in women's 200m back stroke) too accounted for gold medals on Thursday night.

Serena, Sharapova in semis

All England Club bade farewell to a favourite daughter as Kim Clijsters was beaten by Maria Sharapova in the women's singles quarter finals of the Olympic tennis competition continued at Wimbledon. The Belgian will retire for the second time after the US Open later this month and will do so without an Olympic medal after her first and last Games was brought to an end.

Sharapova made a fast start and, although Clijsters delighted the Centre Court crowd by breaking back in the second set, she could not force a decider and lost out 6-2 7-5. Clijsters was happy to exit centre stage, saying: "It was great. It's a nice experience every time you go out on Centre Court so I'm happy to say that my last match at Wimbledon was on Centre Court,".

Sharapova was thrilled with the result, and she said: "I certainly had to step up today from my previous round. Kim is so experienced, a grand slam champion.ÓI knew that it would be really tough and I really wanted to win today so I stayed extra focused. It was obviously getting close and it was such a tight second set I was just happy to get through this one."

Russian Maria Kirilenko, seeded 14th, earlier pulled off an impressive 7-6 (7/3) 6-3 victory over sixth seed and former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova. American Serena Williams advanced with a 6-0 6-3 win over eighth seed Caroline Wozniacki. Williams is still on track for two gold medals after teaming up with sister Venus to defeat French Open champions Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci from Italy 6-1 6-1 in the quarter-finals of the women's doubles.

China guaranteed badminton gold

China are guaranteed at least one Badminton gold medal at London 2012 after their leading Mixed Doubles pairs reached the final.

Top seeds and world champions Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei will take on number two pair Xu Chen and Ma Jin for the title at Wembley Arena on Friday after hard-fought semi-final wins.

Both pairs needed to come from behind with Zhang and Zhao extended by Denmark's Joachim Fischer and Christinna Pedersen before prevailing 17-21 21-17 21-19 in 82 grueling minutes.

Xu and Ma needed to hold out in a nervy second game after losing a tight opener against All England champions Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir before winning 21-23 21-18 21-13 in 75 minutes.The defeat for Ahmad and Natsir means that for the first time in Olympic history Indonesia will not be able to win at least a single gold medal in badminton.

NOCs set up hospitality houses

Many National Olympic Committees (NOC) have set up hospitality houses to entertain athletes and VIPs whilst the Games are on, with some of the events open to the public.Each hospitality house offers a unique experience and will give guests a chance to take in some culture, enjoying everything from special cuisine to art. Events include exhibitions, concerts, parties and film screenings.Many of these houses in London will remain open for the duration of the Olympic Games, closing on 12 August. Some events open to the public, including a chance to watch the Games on the big screen and experience a taste of tria House, Tower Hill, or a visit to Brazil's home at Somerset House which looks ahead to the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Among the countries to have set up hospitality homes are Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, Brasil, Ireland, Russia, Holland, Canada, Africa and Belgium. Tickets are required for events open to the public.

LONDON, Thursday.