Day 3 at the 2016 Rio Olympics features some big names in the sports of gymnastics, swimming and beach volleyball, and a fencer who will make history no matter what the result.
Here are our 4 to Watch for Monday Aug. 8:
1. Medals at Stake in Men's Team Gymnastics
Newport Beach's Sam Mikulak will get back up on that pommel horse Monday when he leads Team USA against two-time defending gold medallists China in the eight-team finals. Mikulak, who now lives in Colorado, took a spin off the pommel horse in Saturday's strong but imperfect preliminaries that set the U.S. up for another opportunity to grab a medal.
"We just want to keep building momentum," Mikulak said. "I think that's what (Saturday) was, getting comfortable on the equipment and making a little bit of a statement. Hopefully that statement will carry over and we can carry that momentum to Monday."
Mikulak will compete in six events as part of the five-member U.S. team. He had the highest scores in Saturday's qualifying in floor exercise and also will compete on the pommel horse, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar. Mikulak was part of the U.S. team that finished fifth in the 2012 Olympics where he also finished fifth in the vault.
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Four years ago, the Americans also had a solid qualifying round before stumbling to fifth in the medal competition. Japan and China are favorites to compete for gold with the U.S. also eyeing a podium spot.
The only U.S. gold medal in the men's gymnastics team final came in the 1984 Los Angeles Games in a weakened field without the Soviet bloc, which boycotted the games. U.S. won the bronze medal in 2008 and the silver medal in 2004.
The 23-year-old Mikulak also qualified for Wednesday's men's all-around finals and the floor exercise, which will be Sunday, and horizontal bar, which will be Aug. 16.
WATCH: Live Stream | NBC Primetime
2. Michael Phelps Continues Quest for Gold
Michael Phelps already had a record 22 medals entering his fifth Olympics, and he's looking for a few more in Rio.
His first individual event will be the 200m butterfly, an event where Phelps already possesses two gold medals and one silver. While a number of incidents plagued Phelps following the 2012 London Games, the Olympian said he’s more focused than ever and determined to leave the sport on his own terms.
"I haven't trained like this in a decade," Phelps told Matt Lauer in an earlier TODAY interview. "I want to retire how I want to retire and I have a great opportunity to do that."
WATCH: Live Stream | Preliminary heats at 9 a.m. on NBC, semifinal at 7 p.m. on NBC
3. Beach Day for Walsh Jennings, Ross
Southern California teammates Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross, opponents in London, will take on China in their second match of the Olympics. Three-time gold medalist Walsh Jennings comes to Rio just a year removed from a serious shoulder injury that sidelined her most of the fall. She had surgery in September to repair her labrum, but Walsh Jennings said the injury may ultimately be a blessing because it forced her and Ross to learn how to rely on each other.
Walsh Jennings, of Manhattan Beach, and Ross, of Costa Mesa, play one more game in the preliminary round after Monday's match-up. A win would leave them well positioned to finish in the top two of the pool and advance to the round of 16.
WATCH (8 p.m.): Live Stream | NBC Primetime
4. Muslim Fencer Makes History
U.S. fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, who made history as the first U.S. athlete to wear a hijab during the Olympics, was eliminated in her second bout in the women's sabre tournament on Monday. She'll next compete Saturday in the women's team saber. Former two-time Olympic gold medalist Mariel Zagunis of the U.S. was also eliminated on Monday.
Muhammad, the middle daughter of a retired detective and special education teacher, is ranked seventh in the world in the women's saber. She began fencing after her mother saw fencers practicing and suggested she try the sport because of its modest uniforms.
"I feel like I've been blessed to be in this position, to be given this platform," said Muhammad. "When I think of my predecessors, and people who’ve spoken out against bigotry and hate, I feel like I owe it not just to myself but to my community to try and fight it."
WATCH: Live Stream (5 a.m.) | NBC Sports Network (Coverage begins at 10 a.m.)
[NATL] Day 3: Highlights From the Rio Olympics
Also in Primetime Monday:
Women's 100m Backstroke Final: The rivalry between the University of Southern California and University of California will be on display on Monday somewhere far from the West Coast: The Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio. The United States' Kathleen Baker, of Cal, and Hungary's Katinka Hosszú, of USC, saw to that on Sunday by qualifying for the women’s 100-meter backstroke final on Monday night.
The Trojan already has a gold medal, winning the 400m individual medley on Saturday.
WATCH (6 p.m.): Live Stream | NBC Primetime
Mens' Diving: American David Boudia will look to improve on his London bronze medal in the men's synchronized platform diving final with new partner Steele Johnson.
WATCH: Live Stream (Noon) | NBC Primetime
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