2008 Beijing Games Day 2

Phelps swims the breaststroke section of the men’s 400-meter individual medley. Teammate Ryan Lochte came in third.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Michael Phelps powers through the backstroke section of the men’s 400-meter individual medley at Beijing’s National Aquatics Center. He finished with a world record time of 4:03:84.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

American Misty May-Treanor dives for the ball during Sunday morning’s opening beach volleyball game against Japan.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Kerri Walsh, left, and Misty May-Treanor of the U.S. women’s beach volleyball team hug after defeating Japan in their opening game. The defending gold medalists played in a steady drizzle but kept up their winning streak, now at 63 games.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

American welterweight Demetrius Andrade lets out a yell after defeating Kakhaber Jvania of Georgia at Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

American welterweight Demetrius Andrade tangles with Kakhaber Jvania of Georgia.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Andrade arrives at the ring to box Kakhaber Jvania in the men’s welterweight division. The American held on to defeat Jvania, of Georgia, 11-9.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson competes on the balance beam during the women’s team qualification.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Sixteen-year-old Shawn Johnson, of West Des Moines, flips backward on the balance beam during the women’s team qualification.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. gymnast Alicia Sacramone is hugged by Coach Martha Karolyi after the vault during the women’s team qualification. Sacramone had stepped out of bounds earlier in a dance routine.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

China’s diving team of Minxia Wu, left, and Jingling Guo flip their way to a gold medal in the women’s synchronized springboard finals at Beijing’s National Aquatics Center.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Francesca Dallape of Italy struggles to keep her form as she and teammate Noemi Batki compete in the women’s synchronized springboard final at Beijing’s National Aquatics Center.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Natalia Paderina of Russia, left, and Nino Salukvadze of Georgia, right, after winning, respectively, the silver and bronze medals in the 10m air pistol women’s final at the Beijing Shooting Range Hall, at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. The two athletes’ nations were locked in military conflict in the Caucasus, with Georgia calling for a cease-fire as Russian troops rolled in.  (Michael Reynolds / EPA)