BEIJING — Michael Phelps isn't the only swimmer setting records at the Water Cube. It only seems that way.

While Phelps took care of routine qualifying for the finals of the 200-meter individual medley, others got their turn in the spotlight today.

The home team celebrated when Liu Zige won the women's 200-meter butterfly for China's first swimming gold medal of the games, setting a world record of 2 minutes, 4.18 seconds. Jiao Liuyang also went under the previous best to give the teammates a 1-2 finish and send the crowd into a frenzy.

Led by Stephanie Rice, the Australians set the 18th world swimming record of the Beijing Games in the women's 800 freestyle relay, obliterating the previous mark by nearly six seconds to upset the United States.

The Americans had won the event all three times since it was added to the Olympic program in 1996, but they couldn't match the Aussies' blazing time of 7:44.31 that shattered the previous record by an astonishing 5.78. China held off the Americans to win silver.

Japan's Kosuke Kitajima completed an historic second straight Olympic double in the breaststroke with a win in the 200, the first swimmer to claim gold in both the 100 and 200 at consecutive games.

With five golds and five world records already, Phelps merely had to get by the semifinals of the 200 IM. He won his heat and moved on with the second-best qualifying time, 1:57.70.

"I feel fine," said Phelps, already the winningest Olympian ever and taking aim at Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in a single games.

Rice emerged as the female star of the games, winning three gold medals with three world record times.

"What a great way to finish, with a gold medal and a world record," she said after her final event.

Alain Bernard of France redeemed himself for getting caught on the anchor leg in the 400 free relay, beating Australian rival Eamon Sullivan in the 100 freestyle. Bernard who touched first in 47.21. Sullivan claimed silver in 47.32, while Jason Lezak of the U.S. and Brazil's Cesar Cielo shared the bronze.

"It's enormous," Bernard said. "I can't believe it. After the relay I could have sunk, but I told myself that after all these years of hard work, I can't let myself go down."

Pieter van den Hoogenband called it a career. The 30-year-old Dutchman announced his retirement after a fifth-place finish ruined his hopes of winning a third straight gold in the 100 free.

"Way too fast," said Van den Hoogenband, who won three golds and seven medals overall in two previous trips to the Olympics.

SOCCER

BEIJING — Promise Isaac and Victor Obinna scored to lead Nigeria over a short-handed United States team, 2-1 yesterday, earning a place in the quarterfinals and eliminating the Americans. The United States played a man short from the third minute when defender Michael Orozco was ejected for swinging his elbow into Solomon Okoronkwo's chest while the players wrestled for the ball. Also advancing to the quarterfinals were the Netherlands, Cameroon, Belgium and Ivory Coast.

TENNIS

BEIJING — Roger Federer, who wept after losing to Thomas Berdych of the Czech Republic four years ago in Athens, avenged the loss with a 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory yesterday to reach the quarterfinals. Rafael Nadal beat Igor Andreev of Russia, 6-4, 6-2. Federer will next face No. 8 James Blake, who advanced by beating No. 10 Gilles Simon of France 6-4, 6-2. Venus Williams also reached the final eight by defeating No. 12 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-3, 6-2.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

BEIJING — Lisa Leslie set a U.S. Olympic record going 7 for 7 from the field as the women's team continued its unblemished run through the Beijing Games with a 97-41 victory against Mali. The Americans won their 28th straight Olympic contest; the last loss was against the Unified Team in the semifinals of the 1992 Barcelona Games.

BASEBALL

BEIJING — The U.S. baseball team lost to South Korea, 8-7, in the opening game for both teams yesterday. The Americans scored three times in the ninth to go up 7-6, but Korea scored twice in the bottom half.

ROWING

BEIJING — In women's single sculls yesterday, American Michelle Guerette advanced to Saturday's final, while American twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss placed second in their semifinal to move on to the men's pairs final.

JUDO

BEIJING — Ronda Rousey won the bronze in women's 70-kilogram judo today, the first medal for the U.S. since the event made the official Olympic roster in 1992. U.S. women won silver and bronze when judo was a demonstration sport in 1988. Masae Ueno of Japan won the gold and Cuba's Anaysi Hernandez won silver.

WEIGHTLIFTING

BEIJING — Liu Chunhong broke three world records in the women's 69-kilogram division, defending her Olympic title to win China's sixth gold medal in the weightlifting competition.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

BEIJING — Americans Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor wrapped up the beach volleyball round-robin with a perfect record today, beating Norway in straight sets to head into the medal round with a 3-0 record. May-Treanor and Walsh, gold medalists in Athens, beat Nila Ann Hakedal and Ingrid Torlen 21-12, 21-15.

SHOOTING

BEIJING — China's Du Li won gold in the women's 50-meter, three-position rifle event today. Du led by one point entering the finals and shot a 101.3 to win the event with an Olympic record 690.3 points. Silver medalist Katerina Emmons finished with 687.7 points.