What to watch for - Day 15.

Yesterday was big for Team USA as we now have a 10-medal lead over China with hopefully more to come.

Anyone else wondering when BMX became an Olympic sport? Yeah, I did too. I didn’t even know it was in the games until Wednesday, but apparently this is its second appearance. Anyways, moving on…

Tonight begins the relay finals for men’s and women’s track with the men’s 4x400m and the women’s 4x100m.

The U.S. has won 16 of 22 Olympic titles in the men’s 4x400m and the dynasty has never been at risk more than it will be tonight. Team USA is without its two best runners in this race with 2008 champion LaShawn Merritt and 2004 champion Jeremy Wariner out with injuries. The team had four Olympic rookies run the semifinal, who did great, coming in second to the Bahamas with an identical time. It was looking like the red, white and blue could defend its title. However, AFTER the race they figured out that Manteo Mitchell, who ran the first leg, had a fractured his fibula. Can we just stop and marvel at the fact that this guy ran a 400m sprint on a broken leg. Wow. But the U.S. is the long-time defending champion and still has some other great runners and we certainly can’t count them out.

The Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago and Great Britain are looking to take the top spot now. South Africa is now in the final as well after falling and failing to finish in the heats. However, they won their appeal and now Oscar Pistorius will run the anchor leg. Can you imagine what a scene it would be if they won or even medaled? The South Africans did win the silver medal at the world championships last year, but they are now without their fastest runner of the race, who suffered a separated shoulder in the fall during the heats.

The women’s 4x100m will probably be between the U.S. and Jamaica. Team USA qualified first after coming within 0.04 of the Olympic record in the semifinals. This was also without two of its fastest runners in Carmelita Jeter and Allyson Felix. Jamaica finished second in its semifinal but did not race Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce or Veronica Campbell-Brown. So it seems the best was left for last and we can only wait to find out what will happen. It is another “redemption” race for the U.S. since the baton was dropped during the race in 2008.

The women’s 1500m and 5000m will be run tonight, while the men’s pole vault and women’s hammer throw will also be completed.

The U.S. women’s basketball team advanced to the gold medal game after a win against Australia yesterday and the men look to do the same today. They face Argentina for the third straight Olympic semifinal game today at 4 p.m. Argentina won in 2004 and went on to win the gold, while the U.S. did the same four years ago. The red, white and blue defeated the Argentinians 126-97 on Monday. If the U.S. advances, they will face the winner of the other semifinal between Spain and Russia.

You’ll rarely hear me talking about the men’s welterweight Taekwondo competition. But American Steven Lopez is chasing his fourth Olympic medal and hails from my hometown of Sugar Land, Texas. I know nothing about the sport and can’t give you any insight. But I’m cheering for Lopez to bring another medal home to the SL.