Adlington eases to freestyle record

Rebecca Adlington's quest for a golden Olympic double in Beijing's Water Cube remained on track on Thursday, but Mark Foster produced a disappointing swim in the 50metres freestyle.

Foster, 38, who refused to confirm whether he would retire from competitive swimming following the Beijing Olympic Games, was well off the pace as he attempted to qualify for the semi-finals, clocking a time of 22.35 seconds which left him 0.18secs outside the top 16.

Adlington, meanwhile, broke the Olympic record as she registered the fastest qualifying time for the final of the 800m freestyle.

The 19-year-old was on track to break Janet Evans' world record - which was set when Adlington was just six months old - at the halfway point before finishing in eight minutes 18.06 seconds, less than two seconds outside one of the most illustrious marks in swimming.

Adlington, who won gold in the 400m freestyle, will be joined in the final by compatriot Cassie Patten after the open water specialist registered a personal best to qualify as the eighth fastest swimmer.

"I can't believe it to be honest," said Adlington. "I didn't expect to do that time at all, but I'm really pleased.

"My aim was to improve on what I did at the trials, and I did that so I'm happy."

Lizzie Simmonds set a new British record in the 200m backstroke as she progressed as second-fastest qualifier for the semi-finals behind Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry, while team-mate Gemma Spofforth, who was fourth in the 100m, also went through.

In the men's 100m butterfly, Croatia's Milorad Cavic set a new Olympic record when he touched ahead of Michael Phelps in 50.76secs, but there was to be no joy for British pair Michael Rock or Todd Cooper, who both failed to progress to the semis.