The 5 Best Olympic Events to Watch Today (Day 3: Monday, July 30)

Image via Complex Original

Team(s)/Athlete(s) of Interest: USA and Brazil

Time: 11:45 a.m. Eastern (live)

Station: NBCOlympics.com

Why You Should Watch: The top two ranked teams in the world face off in this qualifying match. Coming off their win against Korea, the Americans are looking to show the world why they're the top ranked team when they go up against No.2 Brazil. If they want to strike fear into the rest of the competition, Team USA has to shut the door completely on Brazil and not let them back in with bad serves at the end of the match; they're not Korea, they'll punish the Americans for their mistakes. Who will have bragging rights going into the elimination rounds: USA or Brazil?

Team(s)/Athlete of Interest(s): Nordine Ouballi, Ajmal Faisal

Time: 3:30 p.m. Eastern (live)

Station: NBCOlympics.com

Why You Should Watch: American flyweight Rau'shee Warren enters his third and final Olympic competition in hopes of breaking through and winning the gold before turning professional. With first round losses at Athens and Beijing, Warren is looking to end his historic Olympic career on a high note. He doesn't fight today, but he'll know his opponent for his opening bout after France's Nordine Ouballi and Ajmal Faisal square off.

Team(s)/Athlete of Interest(s): Rebecca Soni

Time: 3:15 p.m. Eastern (live) 7:00 p.m. Eastern (taped)

Station: NBCOlympics.com (live); NBC (taped)

Why You Should Watch: Looking to add to her three Olympic medals from Beijing (2 silver and 1 gold), American Rebecca Soni is heading into the 100m Breaststroke finals as a favorite to win after her second place qualifying time behind her biggest competition Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte. The 15-year-old Meilutyte is on the verge of being the first Lithuanian Olympic swimming medalist. One swimming for a second gold and the other swimming for her country's first medal—we're not sure who's going to take this one, but this final is a must see.

Team(s)/Athlete(s) of Interest: Ryan Lochte

Time: 2:40 p.m. Eastern (live); 7:00 p.m. Eastern (taped)

Station: NBCOlympics.com (live); NBC (taped)

Why You Should Watch: After coming second to Phelps in nearly everything in Beijing, its Lochte's turn now. Beating Phelps in the 400m freestyle was just the start to Lochte's Olympic gold rise. While he may not reach Phelps' total medal count, Lochte is currently looking better in this rivalry with his one gold medal in London to Phelps' zero. Lochte can make that two up on Phelps if he wins the 200m freestyle.

Team(s)/Athlete(s) of Interest: Michael Phelps

Time: 10:20 a.m. Eastern (heats); 3:30 p.m. Eastern (semifinals)

Station: NBCOlympics.com (live); NBC (7:00 p.m. taped)

Why You Should Watch: After looking sluggish and winning silver in the 400m freestyle relay, and placing fourth in the individual 400m freestyle, Michael Phelps is looking to come at least remotely close to his Beijing form in the 200m Butterfly heats. America's golden boy has been a disappointment so far in London in not winning any gold medals, and losing to his rival Ryan Lochte in the 400m medley. Phelps has some ground to cover if he wants to break Larisa Latynina's Olympic record of 18 medals (he needs 3); so far he's 1-for-2 out of seven events. With two down and five to go, will the 200m Butterfly be the resurgence of Phelps' Olympic record hopes, or will he go belly up again?