BEIJING, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Japan's Kosuke Kitajima enjoyed his moment in the Olympic swimming spotlight Thursday and a world record holder received the biggest break of her career.
Michael Phelps, whose exploits have defined the opening week of the Beijing Games, had what was almost a day off. The American superstar, who now owns the Olympic record for most career gold medals with 11, coasted to a win in his 200-meter individual medley semifinal heat.
That left room for others to gain some attention and Kitajima took full advantage.
He became the first swimmer to win both the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke events in two consecutive Olympics. Kitajima just missed breaking his own world record in winning the 200 Thursday. Brenton Rickard of Australia finished almost a full second behind, followed by Hughes Duboscq of France.
The other gold medals awarded Thursday went to China's Liu Zige in the women's 200 butterfly, France's Alain Bernard in the men's 100 freestyle and the Australian women's 800-meter freestyle relay team.
There was drama, however, in a race that had no medal at stake.
Women's 100-meter world record holder Lisbeth Trickett of Australia, swimming in the first semifinal heat of that event, finished only fourth. After the second semifinal, Trickett had recorded just the ninth best time and that meant she would shockingly not qualify for Friday's final.
It was then announced that one of the first eight, China's Pang Jiaying, had been disqualified for a false start -- putting Tricket into the final after all. Replays showed Pang, indeed, had flinched before the gun sounded, which brings about an automatic disqualification.
