Phelps Wins Record 21st Medal

American swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, won his 21st medal Friday at the London Games, as the United States ruled the pool and excitement built toward a weekend of fierce track and field competition.

Phelps closed his individual career by claiming the gold in the 100-meter butterfly, while 17-year-old Missy Franklin grabbed her third gold medal of the Games in the 200-meter backstroke.


Meanwhile, Briton Jessica Ennis thrilled a raucous home crowd with a world-best time for a heptathlete in the 100-meter hurdles.  Lithuania's Austra Skujyte, however, set an Olympic record in the shot put to take the overall lead in the seven-event competition.

Ethiopia's seven-time world champion Tirunesh Dibaba destroyed the field in the women's 10,000-meters, finishing nearly six seconds ahead of Kenyan Sally Kipyego and a full 10 seconds ahead of the reigning world champion, Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot.

South Korean Oh Jin-hyek won his country's first individual archery gold medal.