United States swimming sensation Michael Phelps etched his name into Olympic history with a sixth gold medal Saturday as doping and judging controversies dogged the games.
Phelps earned his record-equalling eighth medal of the games without even having to get wet as his team-mates in the US 4x100 relay squad brought the curtain down on the swimming competition with a world record-breaking victory.
The 19-year-old, who was awarded the medal by virtue of taking part in the early rounds of the relay, now stands alone with Soviet gymnast Alexander Dityatin, who also won eight at the 1980 Moscow games.
The end of the swimming coincided with track and field getting into full swing at the 70,000-capacity Olympic Stadium, where three of 32 gold medals up for grabs on Saturday were to be decided.
With 24 of Saturday's golds settled, the United States led the medal standings with 19 golds, one ahead of China who earned gold medals in weightlifting, badminton and table-tennis.
The opening rounds of the contest to decide the world's fastest man saw American sprinter Shawn Crawford outshine the big guns with the fastest time of the season, blasting through his second round heat in 9.89sec.
Olympic champion Maurice Greene came through the second round in 9.94sec while the Caribbean laid down their challenge through Jamaica's Asafa Powell and world champion Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis.
Athletics sees three golds awarded Saturday in the women's 100m, heptathlon and women's discus.
In other action, British rower Matthew Pinsent made sure of his place in the pantheon of Olympic greats by winning a gold medal for the fourth consecutive games in the men's coxless fours.
There was more gold joy for Britain when yachtsman Ben Ainslie followed up his victory at the Sydney Olympics in the Laser class by winning the Finn.
Britain earned another gold - in the court-room - when they won their legal battle to have the topsy-turvy result of the three-day eventing equestrian competition overturned.
In the men's football tournament, both Iraq and Italy earned 1-0 wins over Australia and Mali respectively to reach the semi-finals.
Away from the sports arenas, the weightlifting drugs crisis showed no sign of ending as two more failed dope tests were confirmed.
A total of 13 athletes - including nine weightlifters - have now failed drug tests since July 30.
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