Olympic swimming action is beginning to close to a close in Beijing’s Water Cube. The night was a historic event for Michael Phelps, as he tied Mark Spitz’s record gold medal haul from any one Olympic Games tonight. In an event that came down to the touch, Phelps hit just .01 before Milorad Cavic to take the gold medal in an Olympic Record time of 50.58. Cavic touched in 50.59, followed by Australia’s Andrew Lauterstein in 51.12. World Record Holder Ian Crocker just missed a spot on the podium, finishing in 51.13.
The first final of the session was the women’s 200 Back, where Kirsty Coventry claimed her first gold of the Beijing Games by smashing the World Record 2nd place Margaret Hoelzer (2:06.23) in 2:05.24. The bronze medal went to Japan’s Reiko Nakamura after a 2:07.13 showing. Elizabeth Beisel, the other American in the final, was 5th in 2:08.23.
Great Britain’s Rebecca Adlington, already a gold medalist in the 400 Free, took down the oldest record in the books in the women’s 800 Free final. She shaved about 2 seconds off of Janet Evans mark, lowering it to 8:14.10. Cesar Cielo claimed gold for Brazil with a 21.30 that established a new Olympic Record. American Ben Wildman-Tobriner placed 5th after a 21.64 sprint.
Dara Torres leads all qualifiers into the women’s 50 Free final tomorrow after a 24.27 effort in the second semifinal heat. This just seconds after displaying a great deal of sportsmanship in getting the officials and other competitors to wait on Therese Alshammar, who had a “suit malfunction” just before leaving the ready room. Kara Lynn Joyce put up a 24.63 swim to qualify 7th for the final.
All that is left for tomorrow are the women’s 50 Free, men’s 1500 Free, and both medley relays.