The USA had earlier extended its domination of the men's 100m backstroke as Ryan Murphy gave the Americans their sixth straight gold medal in the event, rallying on the return lap to win with a time of 51.97 seconds Monday night at the Rio Olympics. 

Murphy was fourth at the turn, with Australia's Mitch Larkin setting the early pace but Larkin couldn't hold on. China's Xu Jiayu surged to the silver in 52.31, while another US swimmer David Plummer, stretched for the bronze in 52.40 — just three-hundredths of a second ahead of a fading Larkin.

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It was quite a moment for Plummer, who finally made his first Olympic team at age 30. Now, he's got his first medal. The Americans haven't lost in this event the men's 100 back since the 1992 Barcelona Games.

King snuff out Efimova

And it was a second gold of the night for Lilly King, who won her showdown with Yulia Efimova. King led all the way to win the race with a time of 1 minute, 4.93 seconds.

Gold number two for Hungary's ‘Iron Lady’

Katinka Hosszu won the 100m backstroke at the Rio Olympics on Monday to add to her world-record victory in the 400 individual medley. Hosszu didn't set a world record in the backstroke but her time of 58.45 seconds was good enough for a second gold.

Kathleen Baker of the USA settled landed the silver in 58.75, while Canada's Kylie masse and China's Yuanhui Fu tied for the bronze in 58.76. Hosszu, whose nickname comes from her grueling schedule, sat up on the lane rope and made a heart sign in the direction of her coach and husband, Shane Tusup.

Phelps on course

Michael Phelps was second fastest in the semi-finals of the 200m butterfly on Monday (8 August) as he sets his sights on a 20th Olympic Games gold medal.

Michael Phelps eased into the 200m butterfly final today (Getty Images/Quinn Rooney)

Michael Phelps was second fastest in the semi-finals of the 200m butterfly on Monday (8 August) as he sets his sights on a 20th Olympic Games gold medal.

Phelps went out strong in the race then backed off a little in the final 50 to save his energy for Tuesday's final. Hungary's Tamas Kenderesi surged to the wall first in 1 minute, 53.96 seconds.

Phelps was next at 1:54.12, followed by Hungary's Laszlo Cseh and South African Chad le Clos, the defending Olympic champion. Four years ago, Le Clos pulled off one of the greatest Olympic upsets when he beat Phelps, who had the lead but glided too long at the finish.

Phelps went out strong in the race then backed off a little in the final 50 to save his energy for Tuesday's final. Hungary's Tamas Kenderesi surged to the wall first in 1 minute, 53.96 seconds.

Phelps was next at 1:54.12, followed by Hungary's Laszlo Cseh and South African Chad le Clos, the defending Olympic champion. Four years ago, Le Clos pulled off one of the greatest Olympic upsets when he beat Phelps, who had the lead but glided too long at the finish.

Yang beats Le Clos to the punch

Chinese swimmer Sun Yang won gold in the men's 200m freestyle. Yang rallied from his customarily slow start to pass South Africa's Chas le Clos and hold off USA's Conor Dwyer, touching the wall in 1:44.65.

Le Clos, who recently announced that that both of his parents are battling cancer, went out with a totally different strategy. He built a body-length lead over the entire field and tried to hang on. It nearly worked. But Yang surged to the front, and Le Clos took silver in 1:45.20. Dwyer claimed the bronze in 1:45.23.

Failure for erstwhile phenom Franklin

Meanwhile, Missy Franklin, the swimming star of London 2012 missed out on the final of the 200m freestyle when she finished last in her semi-final heat with only the 13th-fastest time among 16 swimmers.

As a bubbly, 17-year-old high schooler, Franklin won four golds and a bronze at the London Games, but she's endured a mystifying loss of form since turning professional last summer, struggling to qualify for two individual events and a relay at the US trials.

In 2012, Franklin competed in seven Olympic events. Now, all she has left is the 200 backstroke and a likely spot on the 4x200 freestyle relay team.