The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic GamesAugust 8-24 2008
(BEIJING, August 14) -- Michael Phelps of the United States will be looking to increase his gold medal haul to six on Friday in the final of the Men's 200m Individual Medley. He will not have the race all to himself, as Ryan Lochte will be there to try and end Phelps's amazing run.
However, it won't be that easy for Lochte to stop Phelps from pursuing his eight-gold quest, not only because of Phelps's incredible strength, but also because Lochte will face the great challenge of racing compatriot Aaron Peirsol and Austrian Markus Rogan in the Men's 200m Backstroke final before meeting Phelps.
The Women's 100m Freestyle final will also be contested on Friday morning and will be a fascinating battle. Natalie Coughlin of the United States qualified fastest, but Marleen Veldhuis of the Netherlands and China's Zhu Yingwen are also in the hunt. World record holder Lisbeth Trickett of Australia qualified for the last spot in the final, after Pang Jiaying's (China) disqualification.
In the Women's 200m Breaststroke final, world champion and world record holder Leisel Jones of Australia will go for her second Olympic title, after winning the 100m Breaststroke on Tuesday. She is sure to encounter close competition, however, from Rebecca Soni of the United States, the fastest qualifier.
