What to watch for - Day 9.

I’m very sad to say that today is the last day in the pool for the London Olympics. Four years removed from eight gold medals in Beijing, Michael Phelps has still provided us some great entertainment in London. We are all lucky to have watched him compete these last several games and there’s a pretty good chance we will never see someone like him again.

Phelps goes for gold medal number four and overall medal number six of these games in the 4x100 individual medal relay tonight. The American men have never lost this race, except for 1980 when the U.S. boycotted the games, so it’s safe to say they are the favorites. Besides Phelps, it’s not known for sure who will compete in the final. I’m not sure who will swim breaststroke, but I’d go with Matt Grevers in the backstroke and Nathan Adrian in the freestyle

The women qualified in fourth in the 4x100 medley relay, while Australia blew everyone away but also used their best swimmers in qualifying. Team USA has finished first or second every time since the race was added, so they have a great chance at gold as well. It’s another question mark as to who will swim the final for the Americans but Missy Franklin is a pretty good bet. This would give Franklin her fourth gold medal and her sixth medal in seven events – not bad for 17-years-old. She is sure to swim the backstroke leg. I’d put Rebecca Soni in at breaststroke, Dana Volmer at fly and Allison Schmitt at freestyle. I’d think three gold medal winners and one silver in those events 100m would give you a pretty good chance at relay gold.

The other events that end the week in the pool include the women’s 50m freestyle and the men’s 1500m freestyle – the longest and shortest events in swimming. Jessica Hardy will compete the all-out sprint for the red, white and blue, while American Connor Jaeger will swim in the 1500m. Neither are necessarily favorites but you never know in these two races.

There are six finals in track and field tonight – men’s 20km walk, women’s discus, men’s long jump, women’s heptathlon 800m, men’s 10,000m and women’s 100m. The most popular of all these will be the women’s 100m to determine the fastest woman in the world. Jamaica swept the podium in 2008 and reigning champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, is back to defend her title. American Carmelita Jeter, who is the current world champion, turned in the top qualifying time and will have U.S. teammates Alliyson Felix and Tianna Madison in the semifinal as well. Jamaicans Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart will also compete for spots in the final.

American Marquise Goodwin is the American favorite after winning the Olympic trials. I have a certain fondness for Goodwin because he is also a member of the Texas football team – Hook’em Horns! He has won the U.S. outdoor and NCAA titles and turned in the best leap in the qualifying round. Here’s to hoping Goodwin will win a gold medal and a football national championship in the span of six months!

Beach volleyball has reached the knockout stage and Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings are still in the hunt for their third gold. After losing their first Olympic set the other day, the duo looks to remain undefeated (and in the tournament) as they take on a rookie Netherlands team tonight.