Five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe will return to international competition at the World Cup in Singapore in November, Swimming Australia have announced.

Olympic, world and European medallist over both long and short course Federica Pellegrini won the 800m freestyle (8:15.20) with Ireland’s Grainne Murphy continuing what has been a highly successful transition season from junior competition.

Michael Phelps moved to within a single victory of equalling Mark Spitz's hallowed Olympic gold medal-winning record as he destroyed the opposition once again to win the 200metres individual medley at Beijing's Water Cube.

Michael Phelps’ bid for a record eight golds at the Beijing Games was kept alive in dramatic fashion in the 4x100m freestyle relay as the United States snatched gold from France with a new world record.