Beijing Games: Day 1

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 9, 2008

Beijing Games: Day 1

Michael Phelps opened his quest to win eight gold medals by qualifying with an Olympic-record time of 4:07.82 in the 400-meter individual medley preliminaries Saturday night in China.

Phelps won his heat in 4 minutes, 7.82 seconds -- 0.44 second better than his gold-medal-winning time four years ago in Athens.

00.new.fence1.jpg — John W. McDonough/SI

Mariel Zagunis (right) and Becca Ward won the first medals of the day for the U.S. Zagunis nabbed the gold and Ward a bronze in fencing.

00.new.fence2.jpg — John W. McDonough/SI

Fencer Mariel Zagunis of the U.S. (center) stands at the podium with compatriots Sada Jacobson (left) and Becca Ward after winning gold, silver and bronze respectively.

An Olympic volunteer keeps a watchful eye on the women's archery competition.

Cyclists at the Great Wall during the men's road race.

Chinese gymnast Yang Wei competes in a qualifying round.

Men's road cyclists go under the Great Wall.

Kai Wen Tan of the USA attempts to qualify in the rings on Day 1.

Czech Republic's Katerina Emmons is congratulated by her husband Matt of the U.S.after winning the first gold medal of the games, in the 10 meter air rifle.

Gymnast Kai Wen Tan of the U.S.competes during qualifying.

Weightlifter Marilou Dozios-Prevost of Canada competes in the 48kg event.

Alexander Artemev of the U.S.

Weighlifter Chen Xiexia of China won the gold medal in the 48kg group.

Jonathan Horton of the U.S.

Chinese gymnast Chen Yibing.

Alexander Artemev of the U.S.

The men's road cycling course took the riders past Tiananmen Square.

Samuel Sanchez of Spain (left) takes gold in the men's road race. Davide Rebellin of Italy (center) won silver and Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland finished third.