LONDON, Aug 2: Michael Phelps of the United States won gold in the men's 200m individual medley here on Thursday to become the first male swimmer to win the same event in three consecutive Olympics and collect his 20th career medal in the process.

Phelps plans to retire after his these Olympics, his fourth, and came out on top in the showdown against rival Ryan Lochte who took silver as the US went joint-top with China on 18 gold medals.

The US were denied a chance to go clear at top of the medals table when Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands upset the American duo of Missy Franklin and Jessica Hardy to win the women’s 100m freestyle gold.

Earlier, Tyler Clary won United States’ 17 gold medal when he powered to victory in the men's swimming 200m backstroke moments after fellow American Rebecca Soni had set a world record in the women’s 200m breaststroke final.

Soni set her second world record in as many days as she defended her Olympic title after touching in 2 minutes, 19.59 seconds, breaking the mark of 2:20.00 she set in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Clary then overhauled Lochte on the final lap to win in an Olympic record of 1min 53.41sec with Ryosuke Irie of Japan taking silver.

American dominance continued in gymnastics as well with 16-year-old Gabby Douglas, nicknamed “The Flying Squirrel,” won the women’s all-around title where she edged out Russians Victoria Komova and Aliya Mustafina.

Elsewhere, Fencer Elisa Di Francisca won her second gold medal at the Olympics, leading Italy to a 45-32 victory over defending champions Russia in the final of the women's foil team event.

At Wimbledon, Serena Williams and British hopeful Andy Murray both advanced to the semi-finals.

Murray delighted a crowd that included Prince William and his wife, Kate, by winning his quarter-final, beating Nicolas Almagro of Spain, 6-4, 6-1. Murray goes up against Novak Djokovic in the semi-final on Friday, after the Serb defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, 6-1, 7-5.

Serena Williams also reached the semi-finals, beating former No 1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-0, 6-3. She will face top-ranked Victoria Azarenka of Belarus on Friday for a berth in the final and a chance at the first singles Olympic medal of her career.

Number three seed Maria Sharapova won a matchup of first-time Olympians, beating Kim Clijsters 6-2, 7-5. Sharapova's opponent on Friday will be fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko, who defeated No 6 Petra Kvitova of Germany 7-6, 6-3.

Meanwhile, controversy struck in boxing when a Turkmen referee was expelled for failing to stop a bout in which a fighter was knocked down six times, and an Angolan coach was deemed a “plonker” by his team chief for failing to present their only fighter for a weigh-in, thus getting him disqualified. —Agencies