The stunning Water Cube sees its first heats Saturday. (Getty Images) (ATR) U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps launches his quest for an unprecedented eight gold medals in the pool when the swimming competition opens at the Water Cube Saturday.
Teammate Ryan Lochte is considered one of his biggest rivals for the gold medal in the 400m individual medley, which begins with heats at 6:33 p.m. (6:33 a.m. EST).
Phelps, nicknamed the "Baltimore Bullet," is aiming to break U.S. swimming legend Mark Spitz's Olympic record of seven gold medals – the most won by an athlete at a single Summer Games.
Swimming is one of 16 sports competitions kicking off the first full day's action of the Olympics; football got underway Wednesday.
The other sports opening are: rowing, badminton, basketball, boxing, road cycling, equestrian eventing, fencing, artistic gymnastics, weightlifting, handball, judo, shooting, archery, sailing and volleyball. A full sport schedule is available from ATR online.
Seven gold medals will be awarded on Day One of the games in road cycling, fencing, weightlifting, judo and shooting.
The first medal ceremony at the Beijing Olympics is for the women's 10m air rifle and takes place at 11:05 a.m. (11:05 p.m. EST) at the Beijing Shooting Range Hall. Mark Spitz’s legendary record seven gold medals at the 1972 Games in Munich will be tested by Michael Phelps. (Getty Images)
In badminton, 22 matches are scheduled for the opening day of competition at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium.
China has dominated badminton at the past two Olympics and is hoping for a strong performance this time around. At Athens 2004, it won five medals including three gold.
Meanwhile, two Chinese women weightlifters are strong medal tips in the 58kg and 69kg categories. Their competition begins at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Gymnasium Saturday.
Japan is expected to continue its Olympic dominance in judo when 386 competitors from 92 nations compete for the 14 gold medals on offer at the Beijing Games. At Athens 2004, Japan won eight of a possible 56 judo medals.
Nineteen sailors are competing on their own at the Games, facing their challenges without the support of a team at the Qingdao sailing venue.
On Sunday, four U.S. tennis star Serena Williams is trying for her first Olympic singles medal. (Getty Images) more sports open their competition programs – hockey, diving, waterpolo and tennis.
Athletes contest a total of 14 gold medals on Day Two.
In tennis, U.S. star Serena Williams launches her bid to become Olympic champion, stressing the importance of the competition alongside the grand slam titles she has won. She won gold with her sister Venus in the women's doubles at the Sydney 2000 Games.
"This is the Olympics, it doesn't get any bigger and for all my trophies, my gold medal is my favorite," she said in a press conference Friday.
"For me this is as big as the U.S. Open."
Written by Mark Bisson in Beijing For general comments or questions, click here
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