Friday's Olympic Highlights

BEIJING, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Friday's Olympic highlights:

-- Michael Phelps neared the end of his amazing Olympic journey, winning his sixth gold medal of the Games and running his career total to 12. Wins in the 100 butterfly and 400 medley relay would allow him to break the record for most golds in a single Olympics. Mark Spitz won seven of them in 1972.

-- American Gymnast Nastia Liukin won the women's all-around gymnastics title, an event that could produce the highest television ratings of the Olympics. She edged teammate Shawn Johnson.

-- China and the United States grabbed four gold medals each Friday, leaving the hosts with 26 and the Americans with 14. A haul of 11 medals overall, however, allowed the United States to regain the lead with 46 to China's 41.

-- The United States actually won 12 medals Friday, but one of them was a little late in coming. Jason Turner received a bronze in air pistol when North Korean bronze medalist Jong Su Kim tested positive for a banned substance that helps steady the nerves. Kim also had a silver medal in the free pistol event taken away.

-- A new international baseball rule played a key role in Cuba's 5-4 win over the United States. Once a game reaches the 11th, teams begin the inning with runners on first and second. Cuba was able to score twice in the 11th and the United States only once, leaving the Americans disgruntled.

-- Track and field got underway and American Tyson Gay successfully tested his recently injured hamstring. He made it through two heats of the 100-meter dash and will run in the semifinals Saturday.