Phelps scoops sixth gold, America fights back

By Simon Denyer

BEIJING (Reuters) - Michael Phelps scorched to his sixth gold and his sixth world record at the Beijing Olympics on Friday in a great morning for the United States in the pool and in women's gymnastics.

With the sun shining the Olympics got into full swing. Crowds poured into the Bird's Nest stadium for the start of the track and field events, with the big names coasting through their heats in the men's 100 metres.

Controversy, though, has never strayed far from these Games.

Organisers were forced to acknowledge on Friday that children dressed in ethnic costumes who carried the Chinese flag at the opening ceremony were not actually from those ethnic groups.

Given the strained relationships between the government and some of those groups, especially the Tibetans, it could be an embarrassing admission, but authorities said it was normal practice to show "people are friendly and happy together".

It is third "faking" incident to hit the opening ceremony, after it emerged that computer-generated special effects had replaced "live" fireworks and an angelic little girl lip-synched to a key song as the real singer was not pretty enough.

Many sports are struggling under the shadow of drugs cheats, and on Friday North Korean Kim Jong-su, who won silver and bronze in shooting, became the first medallist to test positive for drugs. Organisers said his medals had been rescinded.

Nevertheless sporting achievements are helping to dispel many of the clouds which had gathered around the Games.

In the magnificent, colour-changing Water Cube, Phelps is closing in on Mark Spitz's record of seven golds in a games.

BROAD SMILE

The 23-year-old now has 12 career Olympic golds, three more than anyone else. Like Spitz in 1972, all of his golds at these Games have come in world record times.

Phelps showed little reaction apart from a quick shake of his fist after victory in the 200 metres individual medley on Friday but burst into a broad smile on the podium later.

He races in the 100 butterfly final just after 10 a.m. (0200 GMT) on Saturday morning, and if all goes well could be in the running to break Spitz's record in the 4x100 medley relay final, to be held just before 11 a.m. in the Water Cube on Sunday.

"I have to conserve as much physical and emotional energy as I can now that I'm down to the last two races," said Phelps.