Michael Phelps on his way to setting a new world record and winning the gold in the final of the men's 400-meter individual medley, 10 Aug 2008

American swimmer Michael Phelps has smashed a world record on his way to winning a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. Phelps shaved nearly one-and-a-half seconds off his own record in the men's 400-meter individual medley race early on Sunday. Phelps is trying to win a record eight gold medals in Beijing. 

In other swimming competition, Australia's Stephanie Rice broke a world mark to win the women's 400-meter individual medley. South Korea's Park Tae-hwan won the 400-meter freestyle, while the Netherlands took gold the women's four-by-100 freestyle relay.

China has earned three more gold medals, taking the 10-meter air pistol event (Wenjun Guo), the women's three-meter springboard synchronized diving competition (Guo Jingjing, Wu Minxia) and the men's 56-kilograms weightlifting (Long Qingquan). 

The Czech Republic won the men's trap shooting event (David Kostelecky), Thailand earned gold in the women's 53-kilogram weight lifting competition (Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon) andBritain earned its first gold of the games in the women's road cycling race (Nicole Cooke). South Korea earned the gold medal in the women's team archery event by beating host country China. 

Reigning Olympic judo champions Masato Uchishiba of Japan and Xian Dongmei of China successfully defended their titles in the half-lightweight division. (Xian Dongmei outscored North Korea's An Kum Ae to win the women's 52-kilogram class, while Uchishiba defeated France's Benjamin Darbelet in the men's 66-kilogram division). Matteo Tagliariol of Italy won fencing gold in men's epee.