Zhong Man's golden sabre lit up Chinese hearts, but it was the men's gymnastics team that triggered spontaneous celebrations Tuesday. In the pool, Michael Phelps set another world record to keep his eight-gold hopes alive. His third win in Beijing with the six in Athens makes him only the fourth man to win nine Olympic golds. Zhong won China's first Olympic fencing gold in men's sabre fencing beating Nicolas Lopez of France 15-9.

China's Zhong Man celebrates after winning the men's individual sabre final match over France's Nicolas Lopez (unseen) on August 12, 2008 at the Fencing Hall of National Convention Center at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Zhong, 25, gave China their second Olympic fencing title, 24 years after Luan Jujie won the foil in Los Angeles in 1984. [Agencies]

It came 24 years after Luan Jujie picked up the country's first (women's) fencing gold in Los Angeles. Luan now represents Canada.

The gymnastics gold tasted sweeter because the Chinese men had failed to lift the team title in Athens 2004. Double world all-around champion Yang Wei led from the front to ensure they did not suffer a similar fate at home.

 

After a shaky start in floor exercises, China surged to the top of the table by the end of round four and from then on there was no looking back.

In the end China, with 286.125 points, was 7.25 points clear of defending champion Japan, with the US trailing in third place.

The host added another gold when Wang Xin and Chen Ruolin won the women's synchronized 10m platform diving with much ease.

Liao Hui picked up China's fourth gold of the day in the 69kg weightlifting.

Phelps shaved 0.90 seconds off his old record in the 200m freestyle to capture his third medal at the Beijing Games Tuesday.

The US swimming sensation dominated from the start to win in 1:42:96.

All three of his wins in Beijing have come in world record time.

His nine golds puts him in the same bracket as US athletics great and swimmer Carl Lewis and Mark Spitz, and legendary Finnish distance runner Paavo Nurmi.

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