2008 Beijing Games Day 3

Michael Phelps won his second gold medal in Beijing at the 400 freestyle.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Garrett Weber-Gale, left, and Michael Phelps celebrate with Jason Lezak, in the water, after Lezak finished the team’s gold-medal effort.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Phil Dalhausser of the U.S. waits for the serve in a beach volleyball match against Switzerland. Dalhausser and Todd Rogers won their contest against Switzerland’s Sascha Heyer and Patrick Heuscher.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Todd Rogers, left, and Phil Dalhausser collide while returning a serve against Switzerland.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Reinder Nummerdor of the Netherlands dives for a ball in a beach volleyball match. Nummerdor missed the shot, but the Netherlands defeated Norway.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Satoko Suetsuna of Japan lines up a shot in a badminton match against China. Suetsuna and Miyuki Maeda won the match, defeating the defending Olympic doubles champions, Wei Yang and Jiewen Zhang.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Japan’s Satoko Suetsuna celebrates after winning a point during a badminton doubles match against China.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Beating the defending Olympic champions is a big deal. It brought Japanese badminton player Miyuki Maeda to her knees.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Weightlifter Alexandra Escobar of Ecuador falls while attempting a lift in the finals of the women’s 58kg group. Escobar finished fifth in the finals.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. women’s water polo defender Lauren Wenger battles for the ball against a Chinese player. The U.S. defeated China, 12-11.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Yujun Sun, of China’s women’s water polo team, scrambles for the ball during the first quarter against the U.S. team during a preliminary match.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. women’s basketball team guard Sue Bird splits the defense of Chinese teammates Lijie Miao, left, and Lan Bian early in the first half of a game at Beijing’s Olympic Basketball Gymnasium.


FOR THE RECORD:
An earlier version of this caption mistakenly identified the U.S. player as Diana Taurasi.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. women’s basketball captain Lisa Leslie looks to score against Chinese defender Lijie Miao in the first half of a preliminary game. The Americans routed China, 108-63.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Women’s Olympic basketball fans show their true colors as they cheer on China’s team during a preliminary match against the U.S.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)