Phelps joins exclusive club

2008-08-12 12:07

Beijing - US swimmer Michael Phelps joined an elite list of Olympic greats on Tuesday becoming only the fifth competitor in history to win nine gold medals.

Phelps added his name to the prestigious group of Paavo Nurmi, Carl Lewis, Mark Spitz and Larysa Latynina when he won the men's 200m freestyle with a world record swim for his third gold medal in Beijing.

He appears destined to become the greatest Olympian as he continues his quest for an unequalled eight gold medals in one Games here and said the toughest three races were behind him.

Phelps won six gold medals in Athens four years ago and has already won gold in the 400m individual medley and 4x100m freestyle relay, both in world record time, at Beijing's futuristic Water Cube pool.

Ahead lie the 200m individual medley, 200m butterfly, 100m butterfly, 4x200m free relay and 4x100m medley relay.

"That's great," said Phelps as he emerged from the water after leading all the way in the 200m freestyle final to post a new world record of 1:42.96.

"I just wanted to be out on my own which I had done by the 100m mark, that was my goal," Phelps said.

"I was out in open water and I was out of the middle, which makes it difficult for the other guys to see me."

Phelps freestyle victory launched a dominant morning for the United States in the pool.

Aaron Peirsol lowered his own world record in winning the men's 100m backstroke, setting a new mark of 52.54, and Natalie Coughlin defended her women's 100m backstroke crown.

Australian Liesel Jones broke the US stranglehold when she won the women's 100m breaststroke title.

- AFP