Road to the Olympics

Champion Taufik makes early exit (Reuters)

(Updates after men's singles champion eliminated)

Records fall, but China atop medal count (PA SportsTicker)

BEIJING (Ticker) - The world records continue to fall, but the United States is no longer leading the medal count.

Holders Gonzalez and Massu crash out of doubles (Reuters)

Defending men's doubles champions Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu fell at the first hurdle on Monday at the Olympic Tennis Centre.

US basketball players visit The Great Wall (AP)

The U.S. Olympic basketball team was not the main attraction this time. The Great Wall has a way of humbling the mighty. "I knew it would be an enlightening event, so I just had to go," Chris Bosh said. "It was excellent experience." The team had a day off Monday after its 101-70 victory over China. Among those making the trip to the historic landmark were Bosh, Tayshaun Prince, coach Mike Krzyzewski,...

Fencing-Vezzali wins record third foil gold (Reuters)

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Highlights of action Monday at the Beijing Games (AP)

STARS Michael Phelps got his second gold medal in his quest for eight -- thanks to a late comeback in the 400-meter freestyle relay by Jason Lezak, who lunged to the wall just ahead of the French anchor. The U.S. team's time of 3 minutes, 8.24 seconds shattered its world record of 3:12.23 set the night before in preliminaries.

Thompson, United States rout China (PA SportsTicker)

Tina Thompson scored 21 of her 27 points in the first half as the United States cruised past China, 108-63, in a Group B contest on Monday.

UPDATE-1-Olympics-Hockey-Champions Australia start in style (Reuters)

(Adds Australia, Korea results, quotes)

Zhang wins China’s 4th weightlifting gold (AP)

Zhang Xiangxiang extended China's perfect record in weightlifting at the Beijing Olympics on Monday, lifting a total of 319 kilograms (703.3 pounds) in the men's 62-kilogram division for the country's fourth gold medal. Zhang snatched 143 kilograms (315.3 pounds) and lifted 176 kilograms (388 pounds) in the clean and jerk.

Weightlifting-Zhang wins gold in risky battle (Reuters)

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Cuban women tame Team USA in indoor volleyball (PA SportsTicker)

The United States did not look sharp as it continued in an attempt for its first medal in women's indoor volleyball since 1992.

The rise and fall of a champion in Beijing (AP)

An inevitable rule of life is that time eventually catches even the greatest champions, whose triumphs and failures at the pinnacle of sports are measured in fractions of a second. On Monday, at the Beijing Olympics, the clock caught one of swimming's once-brightest stars, Laure Manaudou of France. Tick, tick, tick.

Fencing-Women’s individual foil final result (Reuters)

Olympic fencing women's individual foil final result in Beijing on Monday. Maria Valentina Vezzali (Italy) beat Nam Hyun-hee (South Korea) 6-5

Fencing-Italy’s Vezzali wins women’s foil gold (Reuters)

Italy's Maria Valentina Vezzali won the Olympic gold medal in the women's individual foil on Monday.

Fencing-Women’s individual foil bronze medal result (Reuters)

Olympic fencing women's individual foil bronze medal match result in Beijing on Monday. Margherita Granbassi (Italy) beat Giovanna Trillini (Italy) 15-12

China’s Chen Makes History In Weight

China won its third gold medal in weightlifting at these Olympics when Chen Yanging captured the women's 58kg category.

Essex venue to host 2012 biking

Organisers have confirmed that Hadleigh Farm in Essex will host the mountain biking events at the 2012 Olympics.

UK aims to fill all seats in 2012

Olympics minister Tessa Jowell says she will learn lessons from Beijing and will try to ensure 2012 Games seats are filled.

Thompson sparks 23-0 run as US blasts China

The U.S. women's basketball team quickly dashes any hopes China had of an upset, avenging a loss in April with the second American drubbing of the Chinese in as many nights.

Lezak storms back as U.S. wins relay

World records continued to fall at the Water Cube on Monday morning's session, and Michael Phelps' run at history continued.

China keeps unbeaten streak alive

China's Zhang Xiangxiang grabbed the weightlifting gold medal in the men's 62-kilogram division, extending the host nation's winning streak in the sport.

Jamaican sprinters arrive, downplay feud

The world's two fastest men, Asafa Powell (left) and Usain Bolt, checked into the Olympic athletes' village Monday. Reports of a team tiff over the practice schedule were quelled by a team manager.

Phelps, Hoff advance to finals

Michael Phelps has advanced to the semifinals of the 200m butterfly at the Beijing Olympics, and Katie Hoff moved on in the 200m freestyle.

Cyclist Moreno fails doping test

Spanish cyclist Maira Isabelle Moreno became the first athlete to fail a doping test at the Olympic Games, the IOC revealed on Monday.

Pellegrini breaks WR in 200m free

Federica Pellegrini of Italy has set a world record in the 200m freestyle preliminaries at the Beijing Olympics.

WATCH LIVE: U.S. vs. China

Continuing its mission toward winning a fourth consecutive gold medal, the U.S. women's basketball team clashes Monday against China. Watch it LIVE here and on USA TV.

China wins third weightlifting gold

Chen Yanqing easily defended her Olympic gold medal in the women's 58-kilogram category, winning China's third weightlifting gold medal and breaking two Olympic records.

Bronze battle better than gold

With the gold and silver medals all but locked up by China and Japan, the will happen with the battle for the bronze. NBC breaks down the scoring potential of the four teams that are in the hunt for third place.

Dawn patrols keep Qingdao algae at bay

The dawn boat patrols off the coast of this Chinese port on Monday were searching for one very specific threat to Olympic sailing events: Bright green algae.

Lezak’s classic finish delivers gold

Take an extraordinary finish, a quest for Oympic history and a little smack talk and NBCOlympics.com's Alan Abrahamson says you have an instant classic in the U.S. men's 4x100m relay win.