Olym-Picks: Which Summer Games events to watch on Saturday, Day 1

Ryan Lochte

Credit: AP Photo

Not sure you want to watch all that the Summer Games has to offer? Here are the events most likely to generate some drama (Phelps vs. Lochte!) and some water cooler talk. If you want to watch them live or just wait for the prime time digest on NBC is up to you.

* Men's 400m individual medley swimming (watch live: qualifications 2:00am PST, finals 11:30am PST)

Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte will be facing off for the first time in this Olympics in the 400m individual medley. Phelps swore off the 400m IM in Beijing, but he's back in the race this time. But don't expect Phelps to swim away with the gold -- at least not without a fight. Lochte has been training for this event for four years, while Phelps barely got into the pool throughout 2011. U.S. swim team captain even admits to being excited. "I think it will be an awesome race,” she told NBColympics.com. “It will have a lot of energy behind it and hopefully give us a lot of momentum going into the next eight days.”

* Women's beach volleyball (watch live: 11:00 p.m. PST)

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings will fight for their third straight Olympic gold. But they should make quick work of Aussie team Natalie Cook and Tamsin Hinchley.

* Women's 4x100m freestyle swimming relay (watch live: qualifications 4:11 a.m. PST, finals 12:40 p.m. PST)

This is the one event Natalie Coughlin will be competing in, but it's an important one -- if she medals, she'll become the most decorated woman in Olympic history. Missy Franklin will also be in the pool aiming for her first medal.

* Men's cycling road race (watch live: final 2:00 a.m. PST)

The Brits look strong in this event, as team member Bradley Wiggins is a 2012 Tour de France winner. But don't count out the Americans and Taylor Phinney -- his parents are both Olympic medal-winning cyclists.

* Women's 10m air rifle final (watch live: qualifications 12:15 a.m. finals 3:00 a.m.)

Just for kicks, check out longshot Malaysian shooter Nur Survani Mohamed Taibi as she competes - eight months pregnant.

 

Liane Bonin Starr
Sr. Editor

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Liane Bonin Starr is an author, screenwriter and former writer for EW.com. Her byline has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Variety and a lot of other places. Her last book was called "a scandalously catty, guilty pleasure" by Jane magazine. Expect the same from Starr Raving.