Phelps destroys world record
Swimmer Michael Phelps kicked off his audacious bid for eight Beijing golds by shattering his own 400m medley world record. "His time of 4min 03.84sec was 1.41sec inside the figures he established at the US trials last month. His challengers lived with him for nearly three quarters of the race then faded on the final freestyle where his narrow lead of one second over team mate Ryan Lochte stretched and stretched until it finally snapped and away he went to finish 2.32 ahead," writes Anita Lonsbrough in the Sunday Telegraph. Australian Stephanie Rice also beat the women's 400m medley world record on her way to gold. (Sunday Telegraph)
Beijing 2008: speedy analysis, strong comment, enduring photographs 
"I told [my coach] that this would be my last 400m medley, so I've got to go out there and get a good time. And this was a good time." Michael Phelps is true to his word - seven more golds to go
Gymnasts shine for Team GB
One of the highlights for Team GB in the early stages of the Olympics has been in the men's gymnastics, where two teenagers have helped the team surprise many by qualifying for the final. "For the first time in living memory, Britain's male gymnasts have reached an Olympic final; four years ago they hadn't even made the grade to travel to Athens," writes Anna Kessel in the Observer. "What made the result even more incredible was the fact that neither Louis Smith, nor Daniel Keatings - both teenagers, at 17 Keatings is the youngest gymnast in the competition - were even expected to compete in this Olympic cycle, having been earmarked for London 2012." Elsewhere there was disappointment for Britain as Craig Fallon failed in the judo and the conditions forced the men's road race cyclists to withdraw. (Observer)
Beijing 2008: speedy analysis, strong comment, enduring photographs
Sir Alex twists the knife
Sir Alex Ferguson stoked the pre-season fires on the eve of the Community Shield with another dig at Chelsea, and a side-swipe at Liverpool. He compared the current Blues squad to the Liverpool side that fell into decline after the 1990 title. "The Manchester United manager has already voiced his belief this summer that, with a line-up studded with players already on the wrong side of 30, Chelsea's potential for improvement is limited and that their best days may soon be behind them," writes Ian Winrow in the Sunday Telegraph. Ferguson then talked up Arsenal's chances - predicting they would be United's biggest challengers. (Sunday Telegraph)
"They are at their very peak, I would think, as a team. So it's much like the Liverpool team of '89. Exactly that same format of experience of that Liverpool team." Sir Alex damns Chelsea with some high praise, and reminds Liverpool fans how long they have been missing out
United line up £20m Henry deal
Manchester United will launch an ambitious £20m bid to land Thierry Henry from Barcelona before the Premier League starts next week after ending their interest in Dimitar Berbatov... Liverpool are set to bid £18m for Valencia winger David Silva, despite Rafa Benitez suffering a cash flow crisis that has so far prevented him from securing the funds for Gareth Barry - while Xavi Alonso may still be leaving... Arsenal are preparing an £8m move for Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson after the player rejected a new deal at Eastlands... Fellow midfielder Stephen Ireland may also be on the way out of Manchester City, heading to Sunderland in a deal that has not been sanctioned by Mark Hughes... Everton have set their sights on CSKA Moscow's Brazilian sriker Vagner Love, the player would cost around £15m and the deal would break the Toffees' club record.
Transfer Talk: all the comings and goings of the close season
Amla and rain frustrate England
Bad weather hampered England's progress in the fourth Test at the Oval, where less than a session of play took place. During what play there was South Africa all but overhauled England's lead for the loss of just one wicket. Vic Marks in the Observer says: "The new regime came across its first obstacles: dreary drizzle and, far more beguiling, a spirited, skilful display of batsmanship from Hashim Amla. The upshot is that after 82 minutes' play in the first session, during which Amla scored 45 more silky runs, South Africa were 12 runs behind England with eight wickets and two days remaining. An intriguing finale to the Test season awaits." (Observer)
Monty misery at USPGA
Colin Montgomerie's Ryder Cup bid appears doomed after the Scot limped out of the USPGA Championships with his worst score in a major. Meanwhile the other Europeans left in the tournament have been battling for Ryder Cup points, despite the dismal weather. James Corrigan in the Independent on Sunday writes: "As Justin Rose's challenge for the toughest USPGA Championship of modern times was stalled by thunderstorms here yesterday, Colin Montgomerie was already back at his Perthshire home facing an entirely different personal examination. Is he finished, are his Ryder Cup hopes dead, is the Monty era now a mere footnote in the game's brimming history books?" (Independent on Sunday)
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