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Michael Phelps of the United States is heading towards a highly-anticipated eight gold medal-haul after pocketing his sixth on Friday in the Men's 200m Individual Medley final. He swam yet another world record, shaving 0.57 seconds off the old mark by touching in 1:54.23. Hungarian Laszlo Cseh edged out Ryan Lochte of the United States to win the silver medal in a European record 1:56.52. Lochte won the bronze in 1:56.53. In the Men's 200m Backstroke final, world champion and joint world record holder Lochte had to fight off a strong Russian challenge but finished with a gold medal and a world record in a time of 1:53.94. Aaron Peirsol of the United States, the defending Olympic champion who won the gold in the 100m Backstroke on Tuesday, came in second for the silver medal in 1:54.33. Russian Arkady Vyatchanin won the bronze medal in a European Record 1:54.93. Rebecca Soni of the United States caused a sensation in the Women's 200m Breaststroke final by downing world record holder Leisel Jones of Australia to win the gold medal in a world record 2:20.22. A visibly distressed Jones won the silver in 2:22.05. She suffered breathing difficulties and later collapsed momentarily. Sara Nordenstam of Norway took the bronze in a European Record 2:23.02. Germany's Britta Steffen won gold in the Women's 100m Freestyle final. Steffen surged in the final few meters to touch out Australian Lisbeth Trickett in the lunge for the line, winning in an Olympic record 53.12, a mere 0.04 seconds in front of Trickett. The Australian had been lucky to make the final, advancing only after a disqualification. Her silver medal time from lane eight was 53.16. In third place was Natalie Coughlin of the United States, who took the bronze medal in 53.39. Brazil's Cesar Cielo Filho qualified fastest for the final of the Men's 50m Freestyle semifinals in an Olympic record 21.75. Alain Bernard of France, the 100m Freestyle gold medalist, qualified second fastest in 21.54. Australia's Ashley Callus qualified third fastest in 21.68. World record holder Eamon Sullivan of Australia qualified equal fifth fastest. In the Women's 200m Backstroke semifinals, defending Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe qualified fastest in 2:07.76. Elizabeth Beisel of the United States swam 2:07.90. Meagen Nay of Australia qualified third fastest in an Oceania Record 2:08.09 while world record holder Margaret Hoelzer of the United States qualified fifth fastest for the final in 2:08.25. Serbian Milorad Cavic qualified fastest for the final of the Men's 100m Butterfly with a time of 50.92. Phelps was second fastest in 50.97, keeping his campaign for eight gold medals well on track. Ian Crocker of the United States, the world record holder and likely the only man left that can stop Phelps winning eight golds, qualified third fastest in 51.27 as did Australia's Andrew Lauterstein. Australia's Grant Hackett, attempting to win a record third Olympic 1500m Men's Freestyle, shrugged off illness to qualify fastest for the Men's 1500m finals in an Olympic record 14:38.92. Canada's Ryan Cochrane qualified second fastest in an Americas record 14:40.84. Yuriy Prilukov from Russia qualified third in a European record 14:41.13. In the Women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay heats, defending champions Australia qualified fastest for the final in 3:57.94. Great Britain qualified in 3:59.14 while the United States was third fastest in 3:59.15. Given their available substitutions, Australia and the United States in particular will be stronger for the final. The same applies in the Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay. Defending Olympic champions and world record holders the United States qualified fastest for the final in a time of 3:32.75. Australia was second in 3:32.76 and Japan third fastest in 3:32.81. In the Women's 50m Freestyle heats, Cate Campbell of Australia qualified fastest for the semifinals in 24.20. Marleen Veldhuis of the Netherlands qualified second in 24.38 while 41-year-old Dara Torres of the United States turned back the clock to qualify third in 24.58. Lisbeth Trickett of Australia, the world record holder and only woman to swim under 24 seconds, qualified fourth fastest in 24.67. Friday's 100m Freestyle champion Britta Steffen of Germany qualified sixth fastest in 24.90.