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Saturday, July 28 (Day 2)
Michael Phelps begins his quest to become the first male swimmer to medal in individual events in three consecutive Summer Games in the qualifying heats of the 400-meter individual medley.
"I have a great opportunity to put a big cherry on top of my ice cream," Phelps told NBC's Bob Costas.
The hero of the Beijing Games — he won 8 gold medals in China in 2008 to add to the 6 gold and 2 bronze he took home from Athens in 2004 — will compete against reigning world champion Ryan Lochte, who beat Phelps in the U.S. Olympic trials. (10-10:45 a.m.; 12:30-1:30 p.m., NBC/Channel 5)
Want to get a look at London? Live coverage of the cycling men's road race will take athletes and viewers through the historic heart of the city and past many landmarks (4-10 a.m., NBC/Channel 5). The U.S. women's volleyball team opens play against South Korea. The Americans are favored to win the gold — which they've never done before (2 p.m., NBC/Channel 5). The U.S. women's basketball team — favored to win its fifth straight gold medal — opens play against Croatia (10:45 a.m., NBC/Channel 5). The U.S. women's soccer team takes on Colombia (10 a.m., NBC soccer channel).
NBC PRIMETIME (7-11 p.m., NBC/Channel 5) • First men's and women's swimming finals; men's gymnastics qualifying; beach volleyball.
More highlights
Boxing • (6:30-9:30 a.m.; 1:30-4:30 p.m., CNBC) Middleweight and bantamweight eliminations.
Archery • (9:15 a.m., NBCSN): The U.S. hasn't medaled in this event since 2000.
Badminton • (9:30 a.m., MSNBC) and table tennis (noon, MSNBC) • No American has ever medaled in either event. —
Pierce on TV
Follow Scott D. Pierce's reports on TV coverage of the Olympics at sltrib.com/blogs/tv; follow him on Twitter @ScottDPierce.