Day 2 of competition in the 2016 Rio Olympics offered a first look at the United States women's gymnastics team in action, more sun and sand in the beach volleyball preliminary rounds and a shot at gold for a Southern California swimmer. Katie Ledecky, competing in a grueling five events, also was back in the pool in search of gold.
Our 4 to Watch for Sunday Aug. 7:
1. Men's 4x100M Freestyle Relay
Valencia’s Anthony Ervin is part of the men’s 4x100m free relay, seeking another medal after winning gold in the 50m free and silver in the 4x100m free relay in Sydney. Ervin retired from the sport in 2003, then launched a successful comeback in 2011 after nearly a decade away from competition. The 35-year-old Ervin, who published a memoir titled "Chasing Water: Elegy of an Olympian" in April, and his teammates will be looking to earn another medal for the U.S. Sunday.
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The 4x100m free team finished second in Sunday morning's preliminary heat to qualify for this evening's final.
WATCH: Live Stream of Preliminary Heats Begins at 9 a.m. | Check TV Listings
2. Beach Volleyball
Phil Dalhausser, of Ventura, will team with his first professional beach partner, Nick Lucena, when the two open competition Sunday. Dalhausser won gold with Todd Rogers at the 2008 Olympics before reuniting with Lucena. Dalhausser didn’t medal in London in 2012, but has a good chance at a second medal — the duo was ranked third going into the Olympics in June.
Two more Southern Californians, Lauren Kendrick and Brooke Sweat, dropped their preliminary round match Sunday against Poland. The pair from Hermosa Beach, making their Olympics debuts, face Brazil Tuesday. The year 2013 was big for Sweat. She won her first domestic volleyball tournament that year, then teamed up with Kendrick, who won the title in 2011. Now they’re hoping to make a big impact and escape the shadow of the top American beach volleyball team of Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross.
WATCH: Live Streams: Dalhausser/Lucena, 12:30 p.m.; Kendrick/Sweat, 7 a.m. | NBC
[Rio2016 - Gymnastics]Model Olympian: Gabby Douglas
3. Women's Gymnastics Vaults Into Action
American gymnasts will be competing on all of the apparatuses, from balance beam to uneven bars, to qualify for the finals in team, all-around and event competition. The top eight teams will advance to the finals, and the U.S. Olympic women are the favorites to take team gold medal.
Gabby Douglas, who resides in Tarzana, didn't have a great performance at the Olympic Trials, but the reigning all-around gold medalist is hoping to bounce back and lead the team to a second team gold in a row. Sunday is also a chance to see Simone Biles in the Olympic arena for the first time. She’s won three straight all-around world championships and four U.S. gymnastics titles in a row, too, so it would be safe to say expectations are high.
WATCH: Live Stream |NBCSN AT 1:30 p.m.
4. Ledecky Goes Solo
Swimmer Katie Ledecky continues her quest to dominate the Rio Games after anchoring the U.S. women's 4x100-meter freestyle Saturday night. Ledecky, 19, made a big splash four years ago in London. She is competing in five events this summer: the 200-meter, 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle along with the 4x200-meter free relay to go with Saturday’s race.
She went into the Olympics with the world record in 400-meter freestyle, so she’ll have one eye on her opponents in the pool and one on the clock when she dives in for the high-octane event.
Ledecky advanced to the final in her 400m freestyle Sunday morning. During her qualification heat she set an Olympic record with a time of 3:58.71. Finals are scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday in the 400m freestyle.
WATCH: Live Stream | NBC Primetime
Also in Primetime:
Men's Soccer: Hosts Brazil hope to change the tone after some uninspiring performances on home soil when they take on Iraq in a group stage matchup. Brazil's passionate fans endured a disappointing scoreless draw against 10-men South Africa Thursday, despite controlling possession throughout. Iraq also drew 0-0 in its opening game against Denmark, but looked threatening at times when they creating several scoring opportunities. They field a less experienced side than Brazil, which will be targeting maximum points.
WATCH (6 p.m.): Live Stream | NBC Sports Network
Women’s 3m Synchronized Springboard: China’s Wu Minxia could become the first Olympic diver to win five gold medals. In London, Minxia became the first diver to win three consecutive gold medals in the same event — the 3m springboard.
WATCH: Live Stream (Noon) | NBC Primetime
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