Speed and distance will close theswimming competition at the summer games in China. The women dash forglory in the 50-meter freestyle. At age 41, American Dara Torres willbe in the race after clocking 24.27 seconds on Saturday for the fastesttime in the semifinals.
The women will also team up in the 4x100 meter relay, as will the men. The U.S. team includesMichael Phelps, who will swim for a record eighth gold medal in asingle Olympics.
"Tomorrow is definitely not going to be an easyrace," said Phelps. "Australia is going to put up a very good relay. So we are going to do like what we did the last two relays. It is allabout being a team."
The men will also take on the grueling1,500 meter event. The Water Cube venue will remain in use as thediving competition continues with the women's 3-meter springboardfinal.
Also indoors will be four finals in gymnastics,including the men's floor exercise, pommel horse, women's floorexercise and vault.
The National Stadium will be where thewomen's 100-meter final will highlight events on the track. Thewomen's 3,000-meter steeplechase, triple jump and marathon will alsohand out medals. The men will contest the long 10,000-meter race andhammer throw finals.
Weightlifting, with the men's 94-kilogramcategory, and wrestling, with finals in the women's 63-kilogram and72-kilogram divisions, will send more winners to the top of thepodium. American Kristie Marano will go for a medal in the women's72-kilo division, and says the field has become more even this year.
"Thereused to be a significant difference, with Japan or China [leading],"said Marano. "But it is a tight race. We took second [place] at theWorld Cup this year, falling to China. Just short falling to China. So yep. China and Japan, Russia. They are all out there."
Rowingwill have another big day with seven finals (men's lightweight doublesculls, lightweight fours, quadruple sculls, men's eights, women'slightweight doubles sculls, quadruple sculls and women's eight) at theShunyi Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Park.
Badminton gold will goto the winners of men's singles and mixed doubles. Men's team sabrefinals in fencing, the skiff dinghy-49er final in sailing and men's50-meter rifle from three positions in shooting will add to the medalcount.
Women's basketball continues with the United Statesfacing New Zealand. The American women easily defeated Spain, 93-55,in their last Pool-B game on Friday. Lisa Leslie is one of the U.S.Women's National Basketball Association stars on the team, and says theOlympics provide a unique playing experience.
"It is an honor toplay for my country," said Leslie. "When we put on the red, white andblue, it is all about that passion and the desire to win. And for us,it is about one team and one goal. And that is to win the gold medal. And we have not lost at the Olympics. And we are going to defend ourgold."
The best women's team will earn gold in table tennisSunday while on the full-size outdoor tennis courts, the men's singlesand women's double champions will be crowned.