BEIJING DIGEST: CYCLING: David O'Loughlin came up short in his bid for a top-six finish in the individual pursuit, but said he was more determined than ever to chase a medal at next year's world track championships, writes Shane Stokes.
The Mayo rider squared off against former world champion Bradley McGee (Australia) in the seventh qualification heat, with neither of the two riding to their full potential. McGee ultimately finished ninth quickest in four minutes 26.084 seconds, with O'Loughlin two places further back. His 4:26.102 was over five seconds off his national record of 4:20.91.
"I was a bit disappointed with today," O'Loughlin admitted. "We expected things to go better than they did, to be honest. I was on schedule after one kilometre and still on track after two, but between there and the finish I started slowing down. I have no idea why. It's quite disappointing."
More gold, more records for Phelps
SWIMMING: Michael Phelps moved to within a single victory of equalling Mark Spitz's gold medal record as he destroyed the opposition once again to win the 200 metre individual medley.
He set yet another world record with a time of one minute 54.23 seconds as he decimated the field expected to provide him with one of his more serious challenges as he aims for eight Olympic titles.
Phelps then kept his historic quest on track by qualifying for the final of the 100 metres butterfly, his last individual event in a packed programme that will conclude with tomorrow's 4x100 metres medley relay.
Rebecca Soni added another gold medal in the pool for the Americans as she powered past Leisel Jones in the final 75 metres to win the 200m breaststroke in a world-record 2:20.22.
Germany's Britta Steffen claimed the gold in the 100 metres freestyle.
Nadal's magnificent year continues
TENNIS: Rafael Nadal will battle Fernando Gonzalez for gold. The second-seeded Spaniard secured his place in the final with a 6-4 1-6 6-4 victory over third seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
Gonzalez, the 12th seed from Chile, had progressed earlier in the day following an epic, 4-6 7-5 11-9 win against James Blake of the US.
Nadal has had an outstanding year so far winning both the French Open and Wimbledon titles.
And the 22-year-old Spaniard has now assured himself of at least a silver medal after seeing off Djokovic in the semi-finals to set up a clash with Gonzalez tomorrow.
Korean done for beta-blocker
DOPING: North Korean shooting double medallist Kim Jong-su has tested positive for a banned substance, been excluded from the Games and stripped of his medals, the IOC have said.
Kim won silver in the 50m pistol and a bronze in the 10m air pistol shooting.
Tan Zongliang of China now takes silver in the 50m, with Vladimir Isakov of Russia taking the bronze. In the 10m, Jason Turner of the US inherits Kim's bronze.
Kim tested positive for beta-blocker propranolol, an IOC spokeswoman said. Beta-blockers are misused to decrease the heart rate and stop possible trembling.
The IOC medical commission chairman said Kim's positive test showed it was an intentional act due to the substance's ability to provide to the user precision characteristics necessary for sports like shooting.
A female Vietnamese artistic gymnast, who finished out of the medals, also tested positive for a banned substance and has been excluded from the Games.
In the genes
GYMNASTICS:Nastia Liukin, the only child of 1988 Soviet Olympic gold-medallist Valery Liukin and 1987 world rhythmic title holder Anna Kotchneva, wasted little time in proving she had inherited the family's sporting genes.
Yesterday she showed off exactly how potent those genes were when she was crowned all-round champion by eclipsing fellow American Shawn Johnson and China's Yang Yilin.
Cuddihy really up against it
ATHLETICS: There was no disguising the challenge facing Joanne Cuddihy going into this morning's heats of the 400 metres, writes Ian O'Riordan.
Given her season has effectively been ruined through injury, Cuddihy was hoping for a bit of a break, but instead she was drawn in lane seven.
So she'll go in the fifth of seven heats knowing only a miracle will see her through. Her Irish record of 50.73 from last year is third fastest, but the more important season's best of 51.98 leaves her the slowest of all, and with only the top three going through, it's not going to be the experience she had intended.
Cuddihy, however, is determined to make the most of it, given all the effort and sacrifice of the past 12 months. The same with Derval O'Rourke, who also had her preparations upset through injury, and who goes in tomorrow's 100 metre hurdles heats knowing her form has taken a significant dip.
There were also reports last night of renewed concern for Eileen O'Keeffe's knee injury, which flared up slightly, although it's not expected to prevent her from competing in Monday's hammer qualification.
