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

　　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, and he appears destined to surpass them as his quest for an unequalled eight gold medals in one Games continues.

　　The 200m free, won with a world record performance, was his third gold in Beijing to go with the six gold medals he won in Athens four years ago.

　　In Beijing, he has already won gold in the 400m individual medley and 4x100m freestyle relay both in world record time, while ahead of him are 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 final to post a new world record mark of one minute 42.96.

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

　　"I was out in open water and I was in 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 52.54sec, 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.

　　There are 15 other gold medals on offer Tuesday, and hosts China will be looking to strengthen their grip at the head of the table.

　　They have nine golds, ahead of the US on six, and are leading contenders in the women's synchronised 10m diving where Chen Ruolin and Wang Xin start as clear favourites in a sport dominated by China.

　　The Chinese men's gymnastics team are also strong favourites for gold after topping the qualification standings.

　　Hong Kong stages the opening equestrian finals where Germany are vying for their first gold at the games in both the team and individual sections of the three-day eventing competition.

　　Neither Brazil nor France have gold yet in Beijing but that could change on Tuesday.

　　France's Lucie Decosse is a leading contender in the women's -63kg as is Brazil's Tiago Camilo in the men's -81kg division.

　　India's first ever individual gold medal, Abhinav Bindra's victory Monday in the men's 10m Air Rifle event, is being rated by cricket legend Kapil Dev as arguably India's finest sporting achievement.

　　"This is much, much bigger than the World Cup," said Dev who captained India to their lone World Cup win in 1983.

　　"I hope it will do as much for Olympic sports as ours in 1983 did for cricket.

　　Other gold medals are on offer in canoeing, fencing, shooting, weightlifting and wrestling.

　　Kobe Bryant and the US all-star basketballers are back in action as well hoping to follow up their big win over China with a victory over Angola.