Triple Athens Olympic champion Michael Phelps will strike for his fourth gold here Thursday when he competes in the men's 200m individual medley in the Olympic swimming pool.

The American teenager will have a fourth-lane start in Thursday's final as he posted the fastest time of one minute 58.52 seconds in the semifinals.

After the 19-year-old has won the 400m individual medley in a world record as well as the 200m butterfly and 4x200m freestyle titles here, Phelps said he would do his best despite the hard competition. He also swam in the 200m free and the 4x100m free relay.

"At the (U.S.) Olympic Trials, I thought they were more taxing than the Olympics. Now that I come here, the Olympics are certainly more taxing," he said. "But once I get in the water, I swim the best I can."

But title contention will not be easy for Phelps in the 200m IM, which he holds the world record.

Phelps' fellow countryman Ryan Lochte followed at heel to be the second fastest overall in 1:58.52 while Hungarian Laszlo Cseh, bronze medalist in the 400m IM, was third in 1:59.65.

The women's 100m free final promises an exciting competition after Jodie Henry broke the world record set by her fellow Australian Lisbeth Lenton at the Olympic Trials in March.

Henry entered the final in 53.52 while defending champion Inge de Bruijn of the Netherlands was second overall in 54.06.

Reigning 100m backstroke and 4x200m free relay winner Natalie Coughlin of the United States finished third while Lenton missed the final by placing ninth in 55.17.

The women's 200m breaststroke final is also a close match when world record holder Amanda Beard of the United States came in front in 2:25.62 and Japanese Masami Tanaka was second fastest to qualify in 2:26.38.

Former world record holder Leisel Jones of Australia was sixth and Qi Hui of China placed seventh.

World record holder Aaron Peirsol will be the biggest favorite in the men's 200m backstroke after the American triumphed in the 100m.

Briton James Goddard will look to add one more medal for his country after Britain bagged a bronze in the men's 200m fly through Stephen Parry.

Source: Xinhua