Olympics day eight preview

Phelps has an eye on Mark Spitz's 36-year-old Olympic record

American swimmer Michael Phelps can create yet more Olympic history on the same day as the fastest men on the athletics track fight for 100m gold.

Phelps aims to match Mark Spitz's record of seven golds when he goes in the 100m butterfly final at 0307 BST.

Chris Hoy (keirin) and Rebecca Adlington (800m freestyle) can both claim their second golds in what could be a golden day for Team GB.

Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay should fight out the 100m sprint final.

However, day eight will begin with the focus firmly on the Water Cube.

Spitz's record has remained unchallenged since the 1972 Munich Games, but Phelps is expected to match it in the 100m butterfly.

Should he do so, the American phenomenon will then try to eclipse Spitz on Sunday when he lines up in the 4x100m medley relay.

Adlington will look to add to the 400m freestyle gold medal she won earlier in the week.

The 19-year-old Briton set a new Olympic record and the second fastest time in history in Thursday's heat. "I did not expect that at all," said Adlington. "I'm really pleased with that."

Team GB will hope success for Adlington sparks a day of medals for other British competitors.

Four years ago in Athens, Team GB tasted huge success in the cycling and have already landed gold in the men's team sprint.

Hopes on Saturday lie with Bradley Wiggins and Steven Burke in the finals of the men's 4000m individual pursuit, from 0930 BST, while Chris Hoy goes in the men's keirin from 0950 BST.

In Qingdao, Ben Ainslie is guaranteed silver but will expect a third career gold in the Finn medal race, while Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson have already secured at least a bronze in the Yngling.

Rebecca Adlington won 400m freestyle gold earlier in the week

The British boat will face stiff competition from French and Australian crews, but will be buoyed by their commanding performance to reach the final.

Men's pair Stephen Rowbotham and Matt Wells go in their final at 0930 BST.

Other finals in the rowing include the men and women's single sculls, the women's pairs, and the men and women's double sculls.

When the action begins at the Bird's Nest, British heptathlete Kelly Sotherton has the opportunity to improve on the bronze she won in Athens.

She was disappointed with her display on day one and will need a marked improvement to have a chance of gold.

The final event of the heptathlon is the 800m at 1445 BST. That will be followed by the final of the men's 100m final at 1530 BST.

Bolt, Powell and Gay are all expected to compete in what has been labelled the greatest 100m final of all time.

US sprint star Gay appeared to work quite hard to reach his semi-final, whereas Jamaican duo Bolt and Powell qualified with ease.

Ben Ainslie is going for his third gold medal in Beijing

Elena Dementieva faces Vera Zvonareva in one semi-final while Dinara Safina meets China's Li Na in the other.

In boxing, British flyweight Khalid Yafai has his first fight of the Olympics. He received a bye in the first round and will go up against Andris Hernandez Laffita at 0645 BST.

Having already won women's doubles gold, China will look to add gold in the women's singles and men's doubles.

Several top nations clash in the quarter-finals of the men's Olympic football tournament.

Brazil meet Cameroon and Italy face Belgium at 1100 BST, then Argentina play Holland and Nigeria take on Ivory Coast at 1400 BST.

In fencing, the women's team foil will be decided, as will the finals of shooting's men's skeet and 25m rapid fire pistol events.

The action also continues on the Olympic hockey pitches, with Great Britain's women in need of a win against Japan at 0630 BST.