LONDON, England (AFP) — Michael Phelps stormed to a 20th Olympic Games medal yesterday while British warhorse Chris Hoy claimed a record – equalling fifth career gold to top off a memorable day for the hosts.

Phelps won the 200m individual medley to become the first man to take the same individual swimming event at three straight Games.

The US star, denied trebles in London in the 400m medley and 200m butterfly, delivered a vintage performance to win in one minute 54.27 seconds and collect his 20th career Olympic medal — and his 16th gold.

American Rebecca Soni broke the women’s 200m breaststroke world record for the second time in two days while compatriot Tyler Clary won gold in the men’s 200m backstroke, denying team-mate Ryan Lochte a repeat victory.

Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands prevented an American swim sweep by taking gold in the women’s 100m freestyle.

World 100m freestyle champion James Magnussen’s Olympic debut suffered another miserable outing when the Australian failed to make the final of the men’s 50m freestyle.

On a wild day of records and controversy at the London Velodrome, track cycling king Hoy equalled former rower Steve Redgrave’s British record haul of five golds after winning the men’s team sprint.

Hoy’s British teammates clocked their second world record of the night to successfully defend their Beijing 2008 title in the final against France.

Philip Hindes, Jason Kenny and Hoy completed their three-lap effort in a new world mark of 42.600sec, beating the record of 42.747 they had set earlier in qualifying.

“We knew it was possible. This didn’t just come out of the blue, but we knew if we kept it together, we had to have the best possible race,” said Hoy.