David Moir / ReutersWelcome to week two, Olympics fans, where swimming is sooo last week and track and field is all the rage.
Also all the rage this week? Soccer (or football, to the rest of the world) as evidenced by the amazing effort in the U.S. women's 4-3 overtime win over Canada, courtesy of Alex Morgan's last-minute header. Now the U.S. team will head to the finals.
But that's not it for the good stuff to come, as we'll be all over the basketball finals and the first-ever bicycle motocross Olympic event ever.
Tuesday, Aug. 7: It could be an All-American showdown in women's volleyball, depending on how these semifinal events pan out. Misty May-Treanor and Carrie Walsh are considered the favorites to win it all, thus earning their third consecutive Olympic gold.
What's better than one Olympic event? Three in one! The men's triathlon is going down on Tuesday, with Great Britain's Alistair Brownlee considered the lock to win—unless his brother Jonathan snatches away the gold. Other events: gold medal finals in track cycling, qualifying rounds for women's 5,000-meter and men's triple jump, and men's springboard gold medal final.
Wednesday, Aug. 8: The women's 800-meter will put a spotlight on South African runner Caster Semenya, the 2009 world champion who has faced accusations and investigations regarding her true gender. One of the newest Olympic sports, BMX, debuts this day as well. Other events: Men's basketball quarterfinals, track and field gold medal finals in women's 200-meter, 400-meter hurdles and long jump.
Thursday, Aug. 9: It's all about the Bolt! Usain Bolt, that is. The Jamaican sprinter returns to race for the gold in the men's 200-meter final. The U.S. women's soccer team will take on Japan for the chance to win their third consecutive Olympic gold medal. Other events: men's beach volleyball gold medal final and women's diving platform gold medal final.
Friday, Aug. 10: The U.S. men's team hasn't lost the 4x400-meter relay since 1952, so this is the race to watch, while simultaneously praying for no upsets. Other events, gold medal finals in freestyle wrestling, synchronized swimming and BMX.
Saturday, Aug. 11: This is the final night of track and field gold medal finals with Usain Bolt in the 4 x 100-meter relay racing against the U.S. team led by Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin. This could also be the night the women's U.S. volleyball team takes home the gold. The gold medal finals of women's basketball and men's soccer are also ones to watch. Other events: men's platform diving finals.
Sunday, Aug. 12: Can either Ryan Hall (U.S.) or Meb Keflezighi (Greece) break Kenya's winning streak in the men's marathon? Men's basketball gold medal final and men's volleyball gold medal final will also close out the Olympics. And don't forget about what will surely be an epic closing ceremony!