Day Nine marked the halfway point of the London Games, and it's become clear at this point that it will be either the U.S. or China at the top of the medal count when all is said and done. The U.S. finds itself in first at the moment with 54 total medals and 26 golds, while China is right behind with 53 total medals, 25 of them gold.
The story overshadowing all the others from Saturday was, of course, the last swim of Michael Phelps. The most decorated Olympian of all time went out in style. He swam the third leg on Team USA's gold-medal-winning men's 4×100-meter medley team, capping a career in which he won 18 gold medals and 22 medals overall.
Also of note from Saturday's happenings for Team USA was Serena Williams' demolition of Maria Sharapova to win the gold medal in women's tennis, Missy Franklin concluding her own substantial medal haul with a gold in the Americans' world-record-setting win in the women's 4×100-meter medley, Carmelita Jeter winning the silver in the women's 100-meter dash and the men's basketball team narrowly escaping a scare against Lithuania.
The focus officially shifts to track on Day 10, and it promises one of the most highly anticipated races in recent memory. Of course, many more events are going on, so check out some of the highlights below. All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.
9:00 a.m., NBC — Men's Tennis Gold Medal Match, Roger Federer vs. Andy Murray
Four weeks ago, Federer beat Murray in the Wimbledon final. Now Britain's favorite tennis son gets another shot at glory and a measure of redemption at the All England Club.
9:00 a.m., NBColympics.com (Live stream — will be shown on NBC in primetime) — Men's and Women's Gymnastics Apparatus Finals
Medals will also be awarded in men's floor exercise and pommel horse, but all eyes will be on Team USA's McKayla Maroney in the women's vault final. Widely considered a lock to win, she nailed a phenomenal vault in the team competition that had many calling for a perfect score to be awarded. Can she actually achieve perfection Sunday?
11:45 a.m., NBC — Women's Basketball, USA vs. China
Team USA attempts to finish the group stage undefeated and head into the knockout round with a full head of steam.
2:00 p.m., NBC — Women's Water Polo Quarterfinals, USA vs. Italy
The undefeated Americans take on the Italians — losers of two of three in the group stage — for the right to go to the semifinals.
2:00 p.m., NBColympics.com (Live stream — will be shown on NBC in primetime) — Women's Beach Volleyball Quarterfinals
After losing their first set ever in the Olympics, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings have roared back and looked as strong as ever in their Round of 16 victory. They'll face Marta Menegatti and Greta Cicolari of Italy, who have dropped only two sets of their own.
4:10 p.m., NBColympics.com (Live stream — will be shown on NBC in primetime) — Track and Field Finals, including the men's 100-meter dash and the women's 400-meter dash
What will Usain Bolt do for an encore to his transcendent Beijing performance? A better question may be, will he actually win? If all goes as expected, Bolt will be facing an absolutely loaded field, including countrymen Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell and Americans Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin. On the women's side, keep an eye on Sanya Richards-Ross in the 400 meters. One of three Americans in the final, Richards-Ross won the bronze in this race in Beijing and is the reigning world indoor champ at the distance.
Check out the full schedule here.
Photo via Facebook/Usain Bolt
