2008 Beijing Games Day 1

U.S. gymnasts, from left, Joey Hagerty, Raj Bhavsar and Alexander Artemev prepare for the parallel bars during team qualifying Saturday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

In preparation for the uneven bars, chalk coats the hand of U.S. gymnast Raj Bhavsar.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

American Jonathan Horton launches himself into the air during his vault on Saturday during the men’s gymnastics team qualifying.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

American Jonathan Horton launches himself into the air during his vault on Saturday during the men’s gymnastics team qualifying.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

American Joey Hagerty performs his routine on the pommel horse, the last event for the U.S. team during men’s gymnastics qualifying Saturday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. gymnast Justin Spring performs a release move during his routine on the horizontal bar Saturday during the men’s gymnastics team qualifying.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Mariel Zagunis, left, gets her foot stepped on by fellow American Sada Jacobson but manages to get a point in the women’s individual sabre competition. Zagunis won the gold medal and Jacobson the silver Saturday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Mariel Zagunis celebrates after defeating fellow American Sada Jacobson for the gold medal in the women’s individual sabre competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Mariel Zagunis holds her head in disbelief after winning the gold medal for the U.S. in the women’s individual sabre competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

American Becca Ward, left, and Russia’s Sofiya Velikaya battle in the bronze match in the women’s individual sabre competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Becca Ward of the U.S. celebrates her bronze medal over Russia’s Sofiya Velikaya in the women’s individual sabre competition Saturday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Michael Phelps swims the backstroke phase of the 400-meter individual medley Saturday, when he set a new Olympic record of 4 minutes 7.82 seconds.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Michael Phelps catches his breath after setting an Olympic record of 4 minutes, 7.82 seconds in the men’s 400-meter individual medley at the Beijing National Aquatics Center.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. swimmer Larsen Jensen quietly celebrates after clocking 3:43.10 in a qualifying heat of the men’s 400-meter freestyle, setting a new American record.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Elizabeth Beisel of the U.S. was the fastest qualifier in the women’s 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4 minutes 34.55 seconds Saturday.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

American Katie Hoff finished second in qualifying Saturday for the women’s 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4:34.63.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Italian swimmer Alessia Filippi competes in the women’s 400-meter individual medley, in which she finished third overall behind Elizabeth Beisel and Katie Hoff of the U.S.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Christine Magnuson checks the scoreboard to see her winning time of 57.70 seconds for the women’s 100-meter butterfly on Saturday during a qualifying heat. Teammate Elaine Breeden finished third in the heat and qualified for the next round. Australia’s Jessicah Schipper was the top qualifier with a time of 57.58.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Play is stopped as blood gushes from the head of Great Britain’s Craig Fallon as he battles Younes Ahamdi of Morocco in a men’s 60-kilogram judo preliminary at the Beijing University of Science and Technology Gymnasium. Fallon went on to win the match but finished seventh overall.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Great Britain’s Craig Fallon takes a poke into an already bloody eye as he battles Younes Ahamdi of Morocco in a men’s 60-kilogram judo preliminary at the Beijing University of Science and Technology Gymnasium.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)