Beijing Games: Day 4

Beijing Games: Day 4

Simon Bruty/SI

Natalie Coughlin celebrates after winning gold in the 100m backstroke, becoming the first woman to ever defend her title in the event. .

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Coughlin held off world record-holder Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, who finished second.

Al Tielemans/SI

The U.S. held on to third-place over Germany thanks to a brilliant pommel horse routine by Alexander Artemev, who scored 15.35 in his first and only event of the day.

Simon Bruty/SI

Michael Phelps won his third gold medal with his victory in the 200 meter freestyle. He swam in world record time of 1:42.96.

Simon Bruty/SI

In winning the 200m freestyle, Phelps ran his career Olympic total to nine golds.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Phelps joined Mark Spitz and Carl Lewis as the winningest Olympians ever.

Simon Bruty/SI

Aaron Peirsol of the U.S. won the gold in the men's 100m backstroke, defending his title and setting a new world-record time of 52.54.

Bill Frakes/SI

Zhong Man of China rejoices after defeating Frenchman Nicolas Lopez in the final.

Bill Frakes/SI

Korea's Kim Sookyung in the women's 63kg medal round.

John W. McDonough/SI

Korea's Jung Ji-Hyun upends Kazakhstan's Nurbakyt Tengizbayev in the Greco-Roman men's semis.

Peter Read Miller/SI

China's Yang Wei during the men's artistic gymnastics team final.

Al Tielemans/SI

China won the gold medal in the gymnastics final.

Peter Read Miller/SI

Japan's Takehiro Kashima and his teammates trailed the U.S. at one point in gymnastics, but made up the difference to win silver.

Bob Rosato/SI

China's Yu Yang (left) and He Hanbin during the badminton mixed doubles quarterfinalsy.

Bob Martin/SI

Benn Fraker of the U.S. in the canoe single final.

Bob Rosato/SI

China's Yao Ming looks to get his shot up against Spain's Pau Gasol in a preliminary round game.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Australia's Leisel Jones won gold in the 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:05.17.

Peter Read Miller/SI

Poland's Karol Bielecki attempts to score against Spain in theteam handball preliminaries.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Katie Hoff during the women's 200m individual medley semis.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Margaret Hoelzer hugs Natalie Coughlin after they finished third and first, respectively, in the 100m backstroke.

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Coughlin shows off her gold along with fellow medalists Margaret Hoelzer (bronze) and Kirsty Coventry (silver).

Bob Rosato/SI

Dwight Howard (11) battles with Leonel Paulo of Angola for a rebound during the Redeem Team's 97-76 victory.

Robert Beck/SI

Ayumi Tanimoto of Japan (white) gets the better of France's Lucie Decosse in judo. Tanimoto won the gold and Decosse the silver.