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BEIJING : Michael Phelps may now lay claim to the title of greatest-ever Olympian but the American swimming star's gruelling bid for record-breaking glory at the Beijing Games grinds on here Thursday.
Although he won't be involved in a final at the Water Cube, Phelps will be back in the pool for the heats of the 100 metres butterfly.
Phelps may have broken the back of his bid for a record-breaking eight golds at a single Olympics, which would surpass the seven won by fellow American swimmer Mark Spitz at Munich in 1972, having now won five events in Beijing.
But the 100m butterfly sees Phelps up against US team-mate Ian Crocker, the world record-holder in the event with a time of 50.40 seconds.
By winning the 200m butterfly and 4x200m freestyle relay finals on Wednesday, Phelps took his career tally to a record-breaking 11 Olympic golds.
However, that doesn't detract from the fact that Phelps is in the midst of a physically and mentally exhausting 17-race programme over nine days.
"I am not unbeatable, no one is unbeatable," Phelps warned.
Phelps is not the only American swimmer who came to Beijing aimimg for a multiple gold haul.
But while the Baltimore phenomenon has remorselessly delivered time and again, Katie Hoff has had to endure one disappointment after another.
Hoff, entered for six events, has yet to win any of the four finals she has so far contested, having seen gold in the women's 400m freestyle taken off her at the finish by Britain's Rebecca Adlington.
The American also won a bronze medal in the 400m individual medley behind Australian champion Stephanie Rice and Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry
However, Hoff has another shot at that elusive gold in the 4x200 relay, an event in which the United States are unbeaten in Olympics since it was added to the Olympic programme in 1996.
In Hong Kong, Germany - who've already claimed team and individual three-day event gold, are eyeing another equestrian triumph as they lead going into the second and final day of the team dressage competition.
Back in Beijing, home fans will hope China can strengthen its position at the top of the medals table with success in the men's all-round gymnastics competition, having triumphed in the team event.
Elsewhere, it will be a major shock if a South Korean does not take individual women's archery gold after their team a new world record on the way to a sixth consecutive Olympic title.
It is a similar story in the women's team sabre, where the United States will be huge favourites after their fencers, led by defending Athens champion Mariel Zagunis, completed a clean-sweep of the podium in the individual event.
In all, there are 17 golds on offer Thursday, with medals also up for grabs in canoeing, judo, shooting and wrestling.
- AFP/vm
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