BEIJING - DIVE queen Guo Jingjing attempts to write her name in the history books on Sunday as Lin Dan seeks to avenge the defeat of girlfriend Xie Xingfang in the women's badminton by taking gold in the men's.

Thirty-seven medals are decided on a bumper day and China made an immediate impact with Zhou Chunxiu coming a credible third behind Romania's Constantina Tomescu in the women's marathon.

China's women - Zhou Jing, Sun Ye, Zhou Yafei, Pang Jiayin - had a storming swim in the women's 4x100metres medley relay, coming third behind Australia and the United States in a race where the world record was shattered.

The hosts remain on top of the medal table with 27 gold, 13 silver and nine bronze to the United States's tally of 17 gold, 18 silver and 22 bronze.

The photogenic Guo, whose high-profile reported relationships in recent years have made her prime gossip-column fodder, is out to become the most successful female diver ever when she gets her 3m springboard quest underway.

If she wins, she will break the record for the most Olympic medals held by the legendary Fu Minxia, who won five during her career.

Guo, who is retiring after the Beijing Games, will also make history by becoming the first diver to sweep both individual and synchro gold in two consecutive Olympic Games.

She already has the syncro title here after winning with partner Wu Minxia, who will challenge her off the boards on Sunday.

'I don't feel pressure from the upcoming final,' said the 26-year-old diva.

'I won't think too much about result, but concentrate on every dive. I will just try my best for that.'

Lin has huge pressure on his shoulders from a public who expect him to deliver, and he has a more personal mission after seeing girlfriend Xie lose to veteran teammate Zhang Ning in the final Saturday.

The mercurial world number one, or Super Dan, takes on mild-mannered Lee Chong Wei, the world number two, is a what is set to be a battle supreme with the Malaysian searching for his country's first gold in any sport ever.

How Lin handles the pressure will be crucial.

'Pressure can be both positive or detrimental to my game,' he said during the preliminaries.

'But Olympic gold is the goal I'm pursuing in Beijing.'

As well as diving and badminton, China's top male gymnasts look certain to deliver gold on the pommel horse, with Xiao Qin, a double world champion, in action while Yang Wei, who has already won the all-around title, favourites.

The men's floor gold is more of a lottery, with Russian, Japanese, and German gymnasts in with a shout.

The women's vault title is decided with triple world champion Cheng Fei going head-to-head with America's Alicia Sacramone.

In the women's floor event America's Shawn Johnson is seen as favourite.

Meanwhile, China's women table tennis players, spearheaded by world number one Zhang Yining, take on minnows Singapore in the team final.

'We won't be overcautious because I believe the aggressive side will prevail,' said Zhang.

Singapore are seeking their first Olympic gold ever. -- AFP