Welcome to Week No. 2 of Olympics, minus Phelps
The post-Michael Phelps hangover begins Monday at the Beijing Olympics.
The 23-year-old Phelps completed his amazing run of eight gold medals, breaking Mark Spitz's previous mark of seven from the 1972 Munich Games, when the Americans won the 4x100-meter medley relay in a world record time.
Now it's on to Week No. 2, where Monday's lineup of 18 gold medals in athletics, diving and sailing, among others, should keep the Olympic faithful occupied for the final days of the 29th edition of the Summer Games.
US swimmers Michael Phelps (L), Brendan Hansen (2nd L), Jason Lezak (2nd R) and Aaron Peirsol (R) stand on the podium for the men's 4 x 100m medley relay swimming final medal ceremony at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing. [Agencies] |
By the time the Olympics end next Sunday, 302 gold medals will have been presented over 18 days of competition in 38 sports at 37 competition venues -- 31 in Beijing, five in other Chinese mainland cities, and equestrian events in Hong Kong.
The women's triathlon kicks off Monday's competition, with Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal and three-time world champion Emma Snowsill of Australia the big favorites over the 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike leg and 10-kilometer run.
Fernandes finished eighth at the 2004 Athens triathlon and won the 2007 Beijing World Cup over Monday's identical course. But she's had several poor recent showings, including a 10th-place finish in the world championships this year.
"This time I am more relaxed and more grown up," the 22-year-old Fernandes said. "Four years have passed. I have won something. I have learned to control myself in every race."
At the Bird's Nest, the men's 400 hurdles and women's 800 will highlight athletics action along with the men's 3,000 steeplechase and long jump, and women's discus and pole vault.
Chinese springboard specialist He Change will dive for his first Olympic medal in the 3-meter springboard Monday at the National Aquatic Center, more commonly known as the Water Cube.
He usually tries one of the most difficult dives in the business, with a degree of difficulty of 3.8 out of 4. It's officially known as the 5156B -- a forward 2½ somersault with three twists in the pike position.
China has won this event at the previous three Olympics, and He and teammate In Keri, the world champion in the 3-meter springboard, will do their best to ensure it's four in a row.
Alexander Despatie of Canada, who won silver in the event in Athens in 2004, fractured his right foot during a training session in April and will be hard-pressed to get on the podium.
"My foot reacted well to all the rehab plans that I had," said Despatie, who is appearing in his third Olympics but has missed most World Cup events since February.
"Mentally I know that my preparation has been quite different compared with the rest of the guys," Despatie said. "I want to prove to myself that I can overcome all those bumps and all those challenges and try to end this season on a good note."
In Qingdao, 480 kilometers (300 miles) southeast of the Chinese capital, men's and women's sailing finals will be held in the 470 class.
The women's points race in track cycling, in which Marianne Vos of the Netherlands is favored, will be held, along with the men's team pursuit, in which Britain and Australia are expected to vie for gold.
