Things to watch: Wednesday, Day 11
— -- A couple of defending champions -- Rulon Gardner and the U.S. women's basketball team -- continue their quest toward another gold on Wednesday. And the star of Sydney, Marion Jones, quietly -- and finally -- makes her Athens debut.
(Event times below might vary from TV times. Many events will be taped and broadcast later.)
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| What | Why |
 Track and field | Before we get to the heavyweights and the heavy lifters, you can't overlook Marion Jones' debut in the Athens Games. Sydney's former superstar will compete in only one solo event at the Olympics, and long jump qualifying gets under way Wednesday. Qualifying in the 400-meter relay starts Thursday, and Jones is being considered for the team even though she is under investigation by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. The field for the men's 200 meters final also will be set Wednesday. Shawn Crawford and Justin Gatlin, the 100-meter champ, both advanced into Wednesday's semifinals. The youngest athlete on the U.S. track team, 18-year-old Allyson Felix, runs in the 200 meter finals. She won all three of her heats en route and will be joined in the final by teammate Muna Lee. |
When: Women's 400-meter hurdles final, 2:55 p.m. ET; women's hammer throw final, 3:10 p.m.; women's 200-meter final, 4:20 p.m. ET; women's long jump qualifying, 2:20 p.m. ET. Expect track and field events to air during NBC's prime-time window, from 8 p.m. to midnight ET.
Wrestling The wrestler to watch is Rulon Gardner, who pulled off one of the greatest upsets in any Olympic sport when he beat Alexander Karelin in Sydney. On Wednesday, he tries to become the first U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler ever to win two gold medals. Gardner, who nearly died two years ago after a snowmobile accident, wrestles in the semifinals after defeating three challengers Tuesday. The highlight of the day? A surprise visitor: Karelin, the three-time Olympic champion who lost to Gardner in Sydney, watched from the stands. "It motivates you,'' Gardner said. "He didn't lose for 13 years.'' Gardner must win two more to duplicate his Sydney success. In his way is another Russian: world champion Khasan Baroev.
When: Pool elimination matches begin at 2:30 a.m. ET; Medal round at 10 a.m. ET. Like track and field, expect Gardner's matches to be televised during NBC's prime-time window.
When: Greece vs. United States, 9:45 a.m. ET. Will air live on USA Network.
Baseball It might not be the two teams we expected to see, but Australia -- which upset Japan on Tuesday -- will compete with Cuba for gold.
When: Australia vs. Cuba, 1 p.m. ET. Will air live on MSNBC (and Telemundo, if you prefer play-by-play en espanol).
The field for the men's 200 meters final also will be set Wednesday. Shawn Crawford and Justin Gatlin, the 100-meter champ, both advanced into Wednesday's semifinals.
The youngest athlete on the U.S. track team, 18-year-old Allyson Felix, runs in the 200 meter finals. She won all three of her heats en route and will be joined in the final by teammate Muna Lee.
When: Women's 400-meter hurdles final, 2:55 p.m. ET; women's hammer throw final, 3:10 p.m.; women's 200-meter final, 4:20 p.m. ET; women's long jump qualifying, 2:20 p.m. ET. Expect track and field events to air during NBC's prime-time window, from 8 p.m. to midnight ET.
Wrestling The wrestler to watch is Rulon Gardner, who pulled off one of the greatest upsets in any Olympic sport when he beat Alexander Karelin in Sydney. On Wednesday, he tries to become the first U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler ever to win two gold medals. Gardner, who nearly died two years ago after a snowmobile accident, wrestles in the semifinals after defeating three challengers Tuesday. The highlight of the day? A surprise visitor: Karelin, the three-time Olympic champion who lost to Gardner in Sydney, watched from the stands. "It motivates you,'' Gardner said. "He didn't lose for 13 years.'' Gardner must win two more to duplicate his Sydney success. In his way is another Russian: world champion Khasan Baroev.
When: Pool elimination matches begin at 2:30 a.m. ET; Medal round at 10 a.m. ET. Like track and field, expect Gardner's matches to be televised during NBC's prime-time window.
When: Greece vs. United States, 9:45 a.m. ET. Will air live on USA Network.
Baseball It might not be the two teams we expected to see, but Australia -- which upset Japan on Tuesday -- will compete with Cuba for gold.
When: Australia vs. Cuba, 1 p.m. ET. Will air live on MSNBC (and Telemundo, if you prefer play-by-play en espanol).
When: Pool elimination matches begin at 2:30 a.m. ET; Medal round at 10 a.m. ET. Like track and field, expect Gardner's matches to be televised during NBC's prime-time window.
When: Greece vs. United States, 9:45 a.m. ET. Will air live on USA Network.
Baseball It might not be the two teams we expected to see, but Australia -- which upset Japan on Tuesday -- will compete with Cuba for gold.
When: Australia vs. Cuba, 1 p.m. ET. Will air live on MSNBC (and Telemundo, if you prefer play-by-play en espanol).