It was a gold medal day for China at the Olympics.

The host country completed their sweep of the team events in gymnastics by winning the women’s team gold yesterday. The US squad, led by 16-year-old Shawn Johnson, challenged the Chinese women, but the outcome was never really in doubt. To have any chance, the US would have had to perform flawlessly. Lackluster outings on the balance beam and floor exercises kept the gold out of reach. However, the high degree of difficulty in the routines by the Chinese gymnasts put the gold nearly out of reach before the competition even began. A young and inexperienced Romanian squad was able to overcome Russia and claim the bronze medal.

The Chinese men’s gymnastics team completed a dominating performance yesterday, cruising to victory over Japan. The US team, without stars Morgan and Paul Hamm, was able to hold on for the bronze after leading halfway through the competition. As with the women’s event, the outcome was never really in doubt.

Michael Phelps added to his gold medal count in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay and the 200-meter butterfly. He has won five gold medals thus far and still has three more events to go before he is done. He is on track to claim 8 gold medals, a record at the Olympics.

The top ranked US men’s beach volleyball squad of Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers beat an experienced Argentine team to assure an advance to the knockout stage of the tournament. The duo lost their first match against a young Latvian team, but has managed to rebound and return to their dominating form.

The US men’s soccer team didn’t fare as well though. They lost to Nigeria 2-1 and will not be advancing to the knockout stage of the soccer tournament. Favored teams from The Netherlands, Argentina, and Brazil all won their final group match and will be among the 8 teams playing in the single elimination phase.

It has been a busy past 24 hours in the pool. The US team has been dominant with Michael Phelps adding to his hardware collection with a win and a world record in the 200-meter freestyle. Aaron Peirsol continued to dominate the 100-meter backstroke. He defended the gold he won in the event in Athens and also broke the world record. His teammate, Matt Grevers, earned the silver. Peirsol’s female counterpart, Natalie Coughlin, won her second straight gold in the women’s 100 backstroke.

Australian Leisel Jones won the women’s 100-meter breaststroke. Team Australia has done well in the women’s events, but the men have not been able to show any dominance thus far.

China’s men’s gymnastics squad avenged their loss of 4 years ago in Athens. China dominated the team event. The US was in the lead halfway through the competition, but the end result was never really in doubt as China cruised through the events to take an easy victory. The US was unable to upset Japan and claim the silver, but strong performances from Jonathan Horton, Alexander Artemev, and Raj Bhavsar earned the US the 3rd spot on the podium.

The lackluster showing continued for US boxing. After last minute withdraws and questions about the training methods and tactical decisions of coach Dan Campbell, the US was dealt another blow yesterday. Rau’shee Warren, one of the boxers favored to make it to the podium for team US, lost a close battle against South Korea’s Lee Ok-sung. It was a major upset for the Korean, but one that was handed to him when Warren, thinking he had won the fight, stopped punching midway through the final round. Welterweight Demetrius Andrade is the best remaining hope for the US to earn a medal.

US basketball cruised past Angola in their second match. Another win and they will be assured of a spot in the knockout stage of the tournament.

Swimming has managed to avoid most of the doping allegations that have threatened the legitimacy of sports like track, cycling, and weightlifting. Though some swimmers have been caught using performance enhancing drugs in the past, the problem is nowhere near as dramatic or widespread as it is in track, where stars like Marion Jones and Justin Gatlin have been suspended and, in Marion’s case jailed, for their use of steroids.

This year, track has managed to avoid any major steroid scandals, but it was recently revealed that swimmer Jessica Hardy tested positive for a banned anabolic substance. Though she has not yet spoken to the public, her lawyer confirmed that she did test positive for a little-used performance enhancer called Clenbuterol. The drug is sometimes used to treat asthma, but can also be used to increase lung capacity and overall stamina.

Many US swimmers, including Gary Hall Jr., have said that USA Swimming has gone out of its way to educate swimmers on which drugs are not allowed. While this approach might be responsible for the low numbers of positive drug tests amongst US swimmers, it leaves Hardy with no opportunity to plead innocence because of ignorance.

The typical suspension for a first time steroid offender is 2 years. Hardy may choose to appear before the US Anti Doping Agency to plead her case. In the past, athletes have been able to halve their suspension time. Even if Hardy and her lawyer are successful, there is no scenario that will allow Hardy to compete in the Beijing Olympics. That is unless the results of the positive test are somehow disallowed.

Sports journalists and Olympic officials do not expect Hardy’s case to be the last. IOC head Jacques Rogge has said that testing for performance enhancing drugs will be increased at the Beijing Games and he expects as many as 40 positive tests.

There were plenty of fireworks at the Australian Olympic trials earlier in the summer. World records fell and a few athletes gained the status of national heroes. Now swimming’s other powerhouse, the USA, has there chance to shine and bring some much needed hype to the event in advance of the Beijing Olympics.

At the US Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska, Michael Phelps showed that he was well on the way to Olympic form by nearly breaking the world record in the 200-meter freestyle. He claims that he is set to peak for the Olympics and repeat the multiple medal-winning performance that he had in Athens 2004. Though Phelps, who is arguably swimming’s biggest star (at least outside of Australia), didn’t smash any world marks, several other swimmers set new marks. Aaron Peirsol and Natalie Coughlin broke the 100-meter backstroke world records in the men’s and women’s races (respectively). Katie Hoff, who succumbed to the pressures at Athens 2004, showed no signs of the stress that forced her to break down poolside four years ago. She smashed the world record in the 400-meter individual medley and set up a showdown with Coughlin in the 200 IM finals.

The biggest rival to Michael Phelps on the US team is Ryan Lochte. As of yet, Lochte has been unable to best Phelps. He failed in his attempt to qualify for the backstroke, and has dropped out of the 200 Meter Freestyle, a race in which Phelps is favored.

Team Australia will be heading to the pool led by Ian Thorpe, AKA the Thorpedo. He and Phelps will have a couple of showdowns in Beijing, and both the US and Australian relay squads should make for some interesting and hotly contested team events.

Swimming is one of the so-called “glamour events” of the Olympics. It is one of the most hyped, most anticipated, and most watched parts of The Summer Games. While Beijingers might add hometown sports like Ping Pong to the list (which includes Track and Field and Tennis), it is unlikely that swimming will be eclipsed by anything, save the 100-meter dash.

What can casual aquatics fans expect from the events at the space-aged National Aquatics Center?

An unpopular decision (amongst competitors, that is) will see many swimming finals take place in the morning, following evening qualifying rounds. Bad news for swimmers, perhaps, but good news for swim fans in the West. The scheduling means that most finals will be shown live in primetime.

Australia and the U.S. are always powerhouses in the Olympic pool. American Olympic veteran Michael Phelps will be back in the water following a 6-medal performance in 2004. On the woman’s side another American, Kate Ziegler should dominate the distance events. There are a host of young Americans also looking to make their mark.

Australia is ready for action as well. The selection process for their Olympic swim team was intense, with 8 world records being broken at the trials. Veteran Grant Hackett heads to the team from down under. Stephanie Rice and Sophie Edington shattered world records during the trails in the Individual Medley and Backstroke respectively.

One Aussie who might not be in Beijing is prodigy Nick D’Arcy. The 20-year old has been left off the team following a breach of code of conduct. D’Arcy was involved in an altercation in a bar and, though he is appealing the decision, it appears he will have to wait four years for his moment in the spotlight.