Golden day for Asia in pool, gymnastics

Then China scored a shock 1-2 in the pool, 19-year-old Liu Zige destroying the world record in the women8217;s 200 butterfly. Compatriot Jiao Liuyang relegated Australian world champion Jessica Schipper to third.

There were sweet victories too for Chinese gymnast Yang Wei, who ended eight years of hurt in the men8217;s individual all-round event, and for shooter Du Li, who had broken down in tears after failing to win the first gold of the Games on day one.

China now has 20 golds to America8217;s 10, and Asian nations have won nearly half of the golds awarded so far.

China8217;s Communist Party newspaper said the West should expect more such challenges ahead from a resurgent Asia.

Day six yielded plenty more excitement in the Water Cube.

France8217;s Alain Bernard won swimming8217;s blue riband event, the men8217;s 100 freestyle, by a whisker from Australia8217;s Eamon Sullivan, after trailing at the half-way stage.

For Bernard, it made up for the agony of being overhauled in the last lap of the 4215;100 freestyle relay final by the Americans.

8220;I know I was feeling down after the relay but I didn8217;t want to get beaten,8221; he said. 8220;I didn8217;t panic.8221;

Sullivan, who had broken Bernard8217;s world record twice in the last week, said 8220;the better man won on the day8221;.

It was better news, though, for Sullivan8217;s former girlfriend Stephanie Rice, the glamour girl of Australian swimming, who got her third gold of the Games in the 4215;200 freestyle relay.

The Australian team screamed and hugged each other after chopping nearly six seconds off the world record and holding off a strong challenge from the Chinese. Sullivan and Rice had split up just before the Games to concentrate on their events.

China did even better in the women8217;s 200 butterfly, scoring a rare one-two with its fast-improving swimmers.

8220;I just took it easy,8221; winner Liu told state television, brushing off the pressure of the home crowd to maintain a Phelps-like calm. 8220;I am always like this,8221; she said.

In the men8217;s 200 breaststroke, Kitajima led all the way for his second gold of the Games, and his fourth in all.

He raised a finger in triumph as he left the poolside.

8220;I was not thinking about winning two gold medals at two consecutive Olympics,8221; he said. 8220;I was just focused on doing my best in Beijing.8221;

After becoming the all-time most successful Olympian with 11 career golds, American swimming phenomenon Phelps had a quieter day, sailing through a semi-final in the 200 individual medley.

Phelps, though, saw friend and compatriot Ryan Lochte come in one-hundredth of a second faster in the second semi-final, setting up a mouth-watering clash in Friday8217;s final.

8220;I just wanted to win my heat,8221; Phelps said, implying he had something in reserve. 8220;I guess it8217;s going to be me and Ryan in the middle tomorrow. It8217;s fine, it8217;s all I wanted to do.8221;

CHEST-THUMPING WIN

China have dominated gymnastic in these Games, and Yang, unbeaten on the international stage since 2006, followed team gold with another in the men8217;s individual all-round round event.

Thumping his chest and cupping his hands around his ears, he accepted the crowd8217;s cheers even before the judges8217; final scores were announced. His joy was magnified by past disappointments, after taking silver in Sydney and nothing in Athens.

8220;We have been waiting for this all-around gold for eight years,8221; China head coach Huang Yubin told state television. 8220;Yang Wei8217;s absolute strength has no other rivals but himself.8221;

There was relief, too, for Chinese shooter Du, who steadied earlier nerves to win the women8217;s 50m rifle three positions. Du said she had nearly quit the sport after failing to win a medal on Saturday, when national hopes had weighed heavily.

Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian was less happy, though, losing his semi-final on points in 84kg greco-roman wrestling.

Shouting at the referee and judges, he threw off the restraining arm of a team official and whacked an aluminium barricade with his fist as he left the hall.

Swedish fans booed loudly as the judges left the arena.