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It has been two whole days since I concluded my competitive outing at the Beijing Olympics and I still am unsure of what happened. My performances at these Olympics did not remotely go the way I thought they would. On the night after my 200 breast, I could not fall asleep until 6:00 am in the morning even though I was physically and emotionally spent. I just lay in bed and could not stop thinking. That is my greatest weakness - over analyzing and over thinking everything! I constantly struggle with switching off my mind and just going with the flow. Needless to say, I have been doing a lot of thinking in the past two days.

I know some may think I am being overly dramatic by saying that I am totally heartbroken over my swims, but one would have to understand where I am coming from. When you have spent the past year putting your heart, soul and absolutely everything you have into your preparation, failing to attain your goals is devastating. I can honestly say that I have never been more prepared for any meet in my entire swimming career, nor have I trained as hard or as well as I have in the past year. Going into these Games I knew I had done everything I could to put myself in a position to swim fast. The people who surrounded me and have watched me train for these Olympics were constantly telling me that it was my time to shine. Furthermore, I knew I was going to swim fast because of all the work I had done. It may sound cocky, almost foolish in fact considering the outcome, to say I knew but I had faith in my preparation.

Unfortunately, things did not work out the way I planned. My 100 breast swim really shook me to my core and I don't think I really recovered mentally and emotionally in time for my 200 breast. It would be easy to blame my 100 breast swim on my cap and suit malfunctions but it was so much more than that. I think I wanted to swim fast so badly that I over-swam the race and started spinning. I could list 100 more things that I would change but such things would bore and/or confuse you if you don't understand swimming and more importantly, I am not trying to justify nor come up with excuses for my performances.

Instead, I will share what I think is my biggest lesson. Before Beijing, I was focused solely on swimming and that was it. It was all I had. In addition, I equated my entire self worth to my success in the pool. You would think I would have figured it out by now that what makes me special is not how I perform in the pool but is measured by the people who I love and who love me. They are the ones that make me worthwhile. They are the ones that make me extraordinary. My biggest obstacle is to really buy into this fact and to realize that my whole life worth is not based on this Olympic performance, that I am so much more than that.

Right now, I am at the point in my career where I am done with college swimming, (therefore, once I graduate, my scholarship from UCLA will be terminated) and I do not know if I will be able to get the support and funding from Singapore that I need to continue swimming. I hate the thought that money could be the reason I retire but it is a fact of life. However, right now the main thing on my mind is do I want to keep swimming?

I have been swimming competitively for 15 years of my life and while the thought of having time to do whatever I desire excites me, I am also deathly afraid. What will I do without swimming? Who will I be? On the other hand, there is the fact that I am still so, so in love with swimming and everything it has to offer. That love, coupled with a burning vengeance to show everyone (and myself) that I can compete at the level that I have been training at, is telling me to keep swimming. But I also know that such a need to prove myself is not the right reason to keep swimming and that such an outlook is just another inner demon I would need to overcome. I need to swim because I love it, because it is a part of my life but not my entire life. These are the things I need to contemplate and mull over in the next few weeks.

All this being said, I just realized that the majority of my blog entries have been characteristically deep and serious, with a huge serving of misery. Therefore on a lighter note, I will say, that I am insanely proud of how my young team of four rookies (not including me) performed at these Games. All of them managed to not get overwhelmed by the grandeur of the Olympics yet use the excitement and atmosphere here to fuel national record-breaking swims. Additionally, one of the girls broke the Asian record and in the process placed fifth in the 100 fly! FIFTH! That is such a big deal for Singapore swimming and I cannot express how happy and excited I am for her.

I will also say that despite the disappointing outcome of my swims, I am proud of how well I prepared myself for these games. Like I said earlier, I have never been more prepared for any meet in my life and I am very proud of that fact. Although I have no results to show for it, I have learned that I am not afraid of doing the work and more importantly, I had a great time doing so. I guess you could say that even though the outcome was not what I desired, I thoroughly enjoyed the process of training for these games. And for now, I am working on convincing myself that that is enough.

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Bruins in Beijing photos

August 14, 2008 | 2:55 PM Kevin Roderick

Here are some images of UCLA athletes and alumni competing at the Olympics in Beijing, from the photo galleries at the UCLA Sports website.

Nicolette Teo, UCLA student who swims for Singapore, during a 200-meter breastroke heat.

Nicolette Teo, UCLA senior who swims for Singapore, during a heat in the 200-meter breaststroke.

U.S. soccer team training in China, with UCLA's Lauren Cheney at right.

Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh play on Friday in an elimination round.

Elaine Youngs, left, and Nicole Branagh face Cubans Dalixia Grasset and Tamara Peraza in the elimination round of the beach volleyball tournament on Friday.

Tanya Harding pitches for the Australian softball team.

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Olympic Roundup – First medal

August 14, 2008 | 2:33 PM UCLA Sports Information

Olympics roundup for Thursday, Aug. 14

Swimming

Bruin alum and volunteer swim coach Kim Vandenberg became the first medal-winner for UCLA at the Beijing Olympic Games, as she and the U.S. 4x200m relay team took third (7:46.33) in the final. Vandenberg swam in the preliminary round, helping the U.S. squad to the No. 2 time heading into the final. She did not swim in the medal round but receives a bronze as a member of the relay squad. It is her first Olympic medal and first Olympic competition.

Softball

Rain delayed the United States' game against Canada on Thursday. Prior to the rain delay, Canada was winning 1-0 in the fourth inning. Play will resume on Friday after the United States-Japan game, which begins at noon Beijing time (9 pm PT Thursday).

Men's Volleyball

In a battle of unbeatens, the U.S. defeated Bulgaria in the last match of a contest that began on Aug. 14, 3-1 (27-29, 25-21, 25-14, 26-24) to remain atop Pool A with a 3-0 record. The victory ensures the Yanks will advance to the quarterfinals along with Poland in Pool B (3-0). On Sat., Aug. 16, the U.S. meets China. The match begins at 7 pm PT Friday. UCLA alumnus John Speraw is an assistant coach for the U.S.

Men's Water Polo

The U.S. men's water polo team absorbed its first defeat at the 2008 Olympics, losing to Serbia, 4-2, on Thursday. Peter Varellas led the Americans, scoring both goals, and goalkeeper Merrill Moses totaled 11 stops in the cage. Former UCLA standout Adam Wright did not score on two shot attempts, and former Bruin goalkeeper Brandon Brooks did not play.

The U.S. men's water polo team continues preliminary-round play against Croatia on Friday, Aug. 15 at 9:10 p.m. (PT). The Americans have compiled a 2-1 record in preliminary matches, and Croatia has logged a 3-0 mark in the first week of action. The USA-Croatia match can be viewed live online (www.nbcolympics.com) and watched on NBC-4 on Saturday, Aug. 16, between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Men's Tennis

Marcin Matkowski and Mariusz Fyrstenberg lost in the quarterfinals of the doubles tournament to Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson, 7-6(5), 6-4.

Rowing

Rain postponed rowing action until Friday. Mark Hunter is competing in the semifinals of the lightweight double sculls, while Mike Altman and the U.S. crew competes in the semifinals of the lightweight fours.

News Links

Women's track and field head coach Jeanette Bolden discusses life as an asthmatic.

Coming Up

*The U.S. women's water polo team faces Russia on Thursday, Aug. 14, at 11:20 p.m. (PT). The USA-Russia match can be viewed live online (www.nbcolympics.com) and watched on NBC-4 on Friday, Aug. 15, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. A win against Russia will advance the U.S. team to the quarterfinals. A victory by Team USA combined with a win by China over Italy will send the U.S. team straight to the semifinals as the first-place competitor in Group A.

*The undefeated U.S. softball team faces Japan in a preliminary round game at 9 pm PT Thursday.

*The U.S. and Canada will meet in the quarterfinals of the women's soccer tournament at 3 am PT on Friday. The U.S. team includes forward Lauren Cheney and assistant coach Jillian Ellis. Canada is led by Kara Lang.

*Track and field action begins on Friday for Bruin alumni Suzy Powell Roos in the Discus and Jonathan Williams in the 400m Hurdles. Discus qualifying begins at 4:55 am PT, while the 400m hurdles begins at 6:55 am PT.

*Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh face Cubans Dalixia Grasset and Tamara Peraza in the elimination round of the beach volleyball tournament. Their match will take place Friday at 7 pm PT.

*Postponed rowing matches resume Friday, with Mark Hunter competing in the semifinals of the lightweight double sculls and Mike Altman and the U.S. crew competing in the semifinals of the lightweight fours.

Medal Count

Bronze - 1 (Kim Vandenberg, Swimming 4x200m Relay)

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Olympic Roundup – Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008

August 14, 2008 | 10:33 AM UCLA Sports Information

Women's Water Polo
The U.S. women's water polo team tied Italy, 9-9, in both teams' second preliminary-round match on Wednesday. Italy's Elisa Casanova scored a power-play goal with 22 seconds remaining to tie the top-ranked U.S. team. Former UCLA player Natalie Golda did not score any goals, registering one shot attempt in 26 minutes. Golda's former teammate, goalkeeper Jaime Hipp, did not play. The U.S. women's team is coached by former UCLA head coach Guy Baker. Following Wednesday's match, both the Americans (1-0-1) and Italians (1-0-1) learned that they are guaranteed to advance in Group A because China (1-1) upset Russia (0-2) by a 13-11 margin.

The United States completes preliminary match play against Russia, ranked No. 3 in the world, on Thursday, Aug. 14 at 11:20 p.m. (PT). The U.S.-Russia contest can be viewed live online (www.nbcolympics.com) and will be broadcast Friday on NBC-4 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Beach Volleyball

The U.S. beach volleyball team of former Bruin Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh advanced to the round of 16 on Wednesday with a three-set victory over Cuba's Imara Esteves Ribalta and Milagros Crespo, 21-19, 13-21, 15-12.

The first set was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team leading by more than three points. With the U.S. squad down 13-12, they scored six of the next eight points to go up 18-15. The Cuban duo scored the next two points, but could not even things up, as Youngs recorded the set-clinching kill.

Youngs and Branagh led 4-2 early in the second set, but Cuba scored the next five points and didn't look back. Esteves Ribalta and Crespo's lead got to as high as nine before the eight-point victory.

The U.S. team trailed 4-3 early in set number three, but netted the next three points and never relinquished the lead. On match point, Youngs spiked down the game-winner to finish pool play undefeated.

Youngs and Branagh move on to the elimination round, which begins for them at 3 a.m. PT Friday morning against an opponent to be determined.

On the men's side, Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, who are coached by Bob Alejo, defeated Argentina's Conde/Baracetti, 21-12, 21-13, to advance to the medal round.

Softball
Natasha Watley drove in the first run of Wednesday's game against Australia in the fifth inning, which proved to be the game-winner, as the United States softball team recorded its second straight no-hitter in a 3-0 victory.

The big hit for Watley came with two outs in the bottom of the fifth on a single to left-center to score Lovie Jung. The U.S. went on to score two more in the sixth to win it by three.

All four Bruins on the Olympic team were in the starting lineup, with Watley at short, Andrea Duran at third, Stacey Nuveman at catcher and Tairia Mims Flowers at first. Duran was 0-for-2 with a walk, while Nuveman and Flowers were each hitless in three at-bats.

Former Bruin Tanya Harding started for Australia and allowed three runs, four hits and three walks in five innings with four strikeouts.

Women's Swimming

Bruin alum Kim Vandenberg swam the third leg of the U.S. 4x200m relay that placed first in heat two with a time of 7:52.43. Vandenberg had a split of 1:58.31. The U.S. team had the second-fastest time during the prelim rounds and will swim for gold on Thursday morning (PST). In the 200m breast, Nicolette Teo was sixth in heat two with a time of 2:34.60. She finished the race 36th overall. Amanda Beard, who is coached by UCLA head coach Cyndi Gallagher, finished sixth in heat four with a swim of 2:27.70. She finished 18th overall, just two spots shy of making the semifinal round.

Men's Soccer

The U.S. ended its Olympic Tournament on Wednesday after losing to Nigeria, 2-1. A red card issued to left back Michael Orozco in the third minute was too much for the U.S. to overcome, although they made a valiant effort to nearly achieved the tie they needed to advance to the quarterfinals. Marvell Wynne made his third start of the Olympic Games, and Benny Feilhaber started the second half.

Men's Tennis

Marcin Matkowski and Mariusz Fyrstenberg advanced to the quarterfinals in doubles after a 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 win over Martin Damm/Pavel Vizner of the Czech Republic. Matkowski/Fyrstenberg will face Sweden's Simon Aspelin/Thomas Johansson on Thursday.

Photo Gallery
View photos of the Bruins in today's softball, swimming, men's soccer, women's water polo and beach volleyball action HERE.

News Links

NBCOlympics.com profiles softball player Andrea Duran
Stacey Nuveman and the USA Softball team are relishing every Olympic moment
UCLA water polo assistant coach Brandon Brooks spent lots of time sightseeing prior to the start of the Games.

Coming Up
The U.S. men's water polo team plays Serbia on Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 7:50 p.m. (PT). The preliminary-round match can be viewed live online (www.nbcolympics.com) and will be broadcast Thursday on NBC-4 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (tape delayed).

The USA Softball team continues pool play against Canada, with first pitch scheduled for 9 p.m. PT Wednesday night.

The U.S. women's 4x200m free relay team competes in the finals on Thursday morning. Kim Vandenberg swam in the prelims.

Rowing action continues on Thursday with Mark Hunter competing in the semifinals of the lightweight double sculls. Mike Altman and the U.S. crew compete in the semifinals of the lightweight fours.

Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs competes in the women's gymnastics all-around finals at 8:15 pm PT. The competition will air on NBC at 11:15 pm PT.

Doubles play continues for Marcin Matkowski in the quarterfinal round in men's tennis.

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Tickets to the Water Cube

August 12, 2008 | 5:40 PM Julie Chiu

My friend Rachel called me Friday night to invite me to swimming. I was very excited to go because it was very difficult to get tickets to the Water Cube. Swimming is my favorite Olympic sport.

Normally, the prelims are in the mornings and the finals are in the evenings. However, NBC petitioned to the IOC International Olympic Committee to change the finals to the mornings so that it would be LIVE in the East Coast. When you pay $900 million USD just for the rights to broadcast the Games you get a lot of pull.

I was sportin' the American spirit. I wore 3 strands of USA beaded necklace and the USA flag in my ponytail.

We walked around taking loads of pictures and soaking up the atmosphere. The concessions were a bit odd. Eggs were on the menu?!?? (Last item on menu) Who thought eggs would be a good item for concessions??? Olympic organizers definitely could improve on the food choices. Granted, I wasn't expecting nachos, churros and hot dogs but they really could've offered food that was more substantial. One good thing is they don't really jack up the prices on concessions like they do in the US.

Michael Phelps swam in Heat 4 of the 400IM and broke the Olympic record. It was the highlight of the evening.

Our seats were behind the starting blocks and in front of the diving tank. It would've been great seats for diving. The Water Cube is impressive when you get up close, especially seeing the bubbles.

Standing in line at concessions, I see a familiar face. Josh Davis. We made eye contact and he seemed to recognize me right away. I knew him from my year working at the University of Texas at Austin. He was an Olympian in Atlanta and Sydney and is now retired from competitive swimming. In Atlanta, I bumped into him at the Olympic Village and I took a picture with him and I was wearing his gold medal. How cool was that?!?!

After the event, we walked around the Olympic Green. Olympic Green refers to the entire Olympic Park where there are clusters of venues for Athletics, Gymnastics, Fencing, Tennis and Hockey. Also includes the MPC Main Press Center and IBC International Broadcast Center. We wandered around snapping a lot of pictures. Found the TODAY SHOW set. No sighting of Matt and Meredith!

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'Disheartened, devastated and disappointed'

August 11, 2008 | 2:45 PM Nicolette Teo

Heart broken — that is how I feel right now. My heart is bleeding now and it aches the way hearts ache after a failed relationship.

My 100 breast swim did not go how I planned it to go and I am disheartened, devastated and disappointed. This was supposed to be my time. I've trained so hard, sacrificed so much, did everything right and was so, so, so ready to swim fast. I guess sometimes things just don't go the way we want them to. I think what hurts the most is that I can easily go the time I swam in practice. I did not come all the way here to swim a time I can go at practice!!

I am also upset because my equipment failed me big time! Before my race, I had to change out of two race suits because the first one I struggled into ripped. The fitting was just off for the second suit I put on and there were huge air bubbles in the suit. I finally settled for the third one I put on even though it wasn't the right size because I was not about to try to squeeze into a fourth suit 20 minutes before I was due behind the blocks.

On top of suit troubles, my cap came off in the middle of the race. I am not sure how it happened, but all I know is that midway in the first 50 I felt my outer cap (I also double-cap it when I race) flopping on my head, and in the second 50, I felt it come off completely.

Stuff happens.

However upset I am right now, I know I need to let that swim go and move on. I still have the 200 breaststroke in two days and I need to refocus all of my energy on preparing myself to swim fast there. Focusing on what shoulda, coulda, woulda happenened is a complete waste of energy. I need to forgive myself, learn from the race and let it all go. I gave myself until noon today to moan and cry about my race but now it is time to put it all in the past and not let one bad swim define this whole meet for me.

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Olympic Roundup - Sunday, August 10

August 11, 2008 | 12:24 AM UCLA Sports Information

Women's Gymnastics
Incoming freshman Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs of Canada qualified for Friday's individual all-around finals, placing 19th overall and 14th amongst the 24 qualifiers (only two gymnasts per country can qualify for the all-around finals) during the preliminaries. Hopfner-Hibbs recorded an all-around total of 58.65, with Top 20 finishes on balance beam (20th, 15.125) and uneven bars (19th, 14.975). She also scored 14.675 on vault and 13.875 on floor exercise.

Men's Soccer
The U.S. rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit to take a 2-1 lead against the Netherlands heading into extra time, but a free kick goal by Gerald Sibon in the waning moments erased the lead and forced a 2-2 tie. A win would have put the U.S. into the quarterfinal round, but qualification will have to wait until Wednesday. The U.S., which is tied with Nigeria for the Group B lead with four points, has to either beat or tie Nigeria or have the Netherlands lose to Japan. The U.S.-Nigeria match will be televised live at 2 am PT Wednesday on USA Network.

Sacha Kljestan scored the United States' first goal in the 64th minute. The second goal started with a long throw-in from Marvell Wynne that bounced around the box and was kicked around a few times before going off Jozy Altidore into the back of the net in the 72nd minute. Wynne started the game, and Benny Feilhaber entered the game as a reserve in the 80th minute. Patrick Ianni did not play.

Men's Volleyball
The U.S. defeated Venezuela, 25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 21-25, 15-10 in a preliminary match. The next match for the U.S. is Aug. 12 against Italy. Bruin alum John Speraw is an assistant coach for the U.S.

Women's Swimming
Nicolette Teo finished seventh in heat four of the 100m breast in a time of 1:10.75. She was 32nd overall and does not advance to the next round.

Men's Water Polo
The U.S. opened play with an 8-4 victory over host China behind five goals from Tony Azevedo. Adam Wright set up the first goal just two minutes into the game with a cross-pool pass to Azevedo. Brandon Brooks did not play.

Men's Rowing
Competing for Great Britain, UCLA women's rowing assistant coach Mark Hunter, with Zac Purchase, had the top mark in the preliminary heats of the lightweight double sculls, finishing in 6:13.69. The U.S. lightweight fours, with Mike Altman, finished fourth in their heat in a time of 5:56.54 and will now race in the repechage on Tuesday.

Men's Tennis
Rain postponed most of the matches on Sunday.

News Links:

Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs continues her legacy for Team Canada by qualifying to the all-around finals.

Amy Acuff and Suzy Powell-Roos have the support of their husbands.

Coming Up:

Men's tennis action is scheduled to resume after rain postponed matches on Sunday. Mark Knowles and Marcin Matkowski are each scheduled to play doubles for their respective countries.

The U.S. Women's water polo team (Natalie Golda, Jaime Hipp and head coach Guy Baker) opens with a preliminary round match against China at 2 am PT on Monday.

Beach volleyball player Elaine Youngs and partner Nicole Branagh take on the German team of Pohl/Rau at 3 am PT on Monday.

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Singapore National Day

August 9, 2008 | 8:38 PM Nicolette Teo

Today is the first day of competition for swimming and it is also Singapore's National Day!! This morning, we had a small National Day celebration breakfast and I had the honor of leading our national contingent in saying our pledge. I'm not going to lie, it was pretty cool.

After the breakfast celebrations, my team and I headed off to the village pool to get in our morning session. I'm feeling alright in the water right now but in the words of UCLA's assistant coach, Erika Hansen, 'feel is irrelevant' or in other words, it really does not matter how I feel in the water.

What i love most about meets is the pure thrill of competition — the excitement that runs through your veins when you step up on the block and look over at your competitior in the next lane and think to yourself 'bring it on!!'

I love the fact that character always beats reputation, that it doesn't matter who is ranked higher or has done more yardage or who feels great in the water today or even who is actually the faster swimmer. What matters most is who wants it more, who is going to lay it all out on the line and just swim, balls out, leaving everything behind in the pool. Character always beats reputation!

I swim the 100 breaststroke tomorrow and surprisingly I am not nervous, well maybe a little nervous but it's more nervous excitement! I can hardly wait to get out there and just race!

So wish me luck Bruin family because when I'm out there racing, not only will I be representing Singapore, I will also be there swimming as a Bruin!

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Olympic Roundup – Saturday, August 9

August 9, 2008 | 8:33 PM UCLA Sports Information

U.S. Wins, Canada Ties In Women's Soccer

The U.S. women's soccer team posted a 1-0 victory over Japan to move into second place in Group G, and Canada tied host team China, 1-1, to keep itself in first place in Group E. UCLA forward Kara Lang, who scored the game-winning goal against Argentina in Canada's first game, set up her team's lone goal against China, intercepting an attempted clearance, chesting the ball and then chipping it into the path of a streaking Christine Sinclair. Sinclair took one touch and hit a low right-footed shot into the back of the net. Lang continued her strong play in the tournament, recording five shots, including one that hit the right post in the 58th minute. Canada will face Sweden in its last group match on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 4:45 am PT.

UCLA women's soccer head coach Jillian Ellis is an assistant coach for the U.S. team, which secured a much-needed three points in group play thanks to a 27th-minute goal by Carli Lloyd. Bruin forward Lauren Cheney did not play in the game. The U.S. will next face New Zealand on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 2 am PT. The game will be televised live on USA Network. The top two finishers in each of the three groups advance to the second round, along with two best third-place finishers based on points.

Youngs/Branagh Victorious in Olympic Beach Volleyball Opener

Former UCLA All-American Elaine Youngs, with teammate Nicole Branagh, won their opening match of the women's beach volleyball tournament on Saturday at the Beijing Olympics. The duo recorded a straight-set victory over the Netherlands' Merel Mooren and Rebekka Kadijk, 21-19, 27-25. Youngs and Branagh won a back-and-forth first set, as neither team had more than a two-point lead. The Americans were trailing 19-18 when they scored the final three points to claim the first set. In the second set, Youngs and Branagh were up 14-7, but the Netherlands' tandem came back to tie the set at 18. Mooren and Kadijk found themselves with another chance to take the set with set point at 25-24, but Youngs and Branagh again netted three straight points to win the second and the Olympic opener. Next up for Youngs and Branagh are a matchup with Stephanie Pohl and Okka Rau of Germany on Monday at 3 a.m. PT (6 p.m. Beijing Time).

In men's action, the second-seeded U.S. team of Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rodgers, who are coached by former UCLA strength coach Bob Alejo, were upset by Latvia's Aleksandrs Samoilovs and Martins Plavins, 21-19, 21-18.

News Links

The Electric New Paper in Singapore profiles swimmer Nicolette Teo.
Water polo player Adam Wright played PIG with Kobe Bryant. Read about it on Merrill Moses' blog at NBCOlympics.com.
Born asthmatic, softball player Natasha Watley has smog concerns, and soccer player Marvell Wynne has already learned how the weather has affected drug testing.

Coming Up

M. Volleyball - Team USA, with asst. coach John Speraw, plays its first-round game against Venezuela at 9:30 pm PT Saturday night.

W. Gymnastics - Incoming freshman Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs competes in the preliminaries (Subdivision 1) with hopes of qualifying for the all-around and individual event finals. Competition begins at 7 pm PT Saturday night.

M. Tennis - Doubles Mark Knowles/Devin Mullings of the Bahamas take on the top-seeded Bryan twins of the U.S. on Sunday, while Poland's Marcin Matkowski/Mariusz Fyrstenberg face Xin-Yuan Yu/Shao-Xuan Zeng (China) on Monday.

Rowing - UCLA assistant rowing coach Mark Hunter of Great Britain competes in Lightweight Double Sculls at 12:30 am PT, while UCLA Anderson school alumnus Mike Altman of the U.S. competes in Lightweight Fours at 1 am PT.

M. Water Polo - Team USA (Brandon Brooks/Adam Wright) plays China at 1:40 am PT

W. Swimming - Nicolette Teo competes in the 100m Breaststroke. Heats begin at 4:26 am PT.

Men's Soccer - The U.S. team (Benny Feilhaber, Patrick Ianni, Marvell Wynne) battles the Netherlands at 4:45 am PT. The game will be televised live on USA Network.

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Choosing sleep over opening ceremonies

August 8, 2008 | 3:43 PM Nicolette Teo

Today is the day of the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. 8.8.08! While participating in the opening ceremony is truly an experience of a lifetime, I have opted to sit it out because the opening ceremony is also a very long and draining event whereby you leave the Village around 6 in the evening and do not return till about 2 or 3 am. Seeing as how I have the 100 breast in two days time, I figure I'm making a smart sacrifice by staying behind.

In addition to being a tiring event, one does not get to actually see much of the ceremony, as parading athletes and officials are cooped up in a holding tank for hours on end waiting for their turn to walk into the stadium. I think Singapore is country number 197 and is expected to parade out around 10:30 pm. I plan to be fast asleep by then!

I recall fondly my very first opening ceremony at the 2000 Sydney Games. I didn't swim the 100 breast at that Olympics and didn't have to worry about what time I got home or how tired I was. Besides, I think I was too young and too excited to even have such thoughts cross my mind! (Ah! The beauty and innocence of youth!) I remember waiting for what seemed like forever before it was Singapore's turn to march out. I remember waving at the camera and flashing them a thousand-watt smile.

I remember the feeling of excitement bubbling up inside of me as I thought about how I was part of something so much bigger than myself. And lastly, I also remember wearing this horrible white furry (yes, ladies and gents, FURRY!!??!) scrunchie in my hair!! Looking back I cringe when I think about that scrunchie and have absolutely no clue what possessed me to wear that monstrosity in my hair! Definitely a huge fashion don't moment for me! =)

Anyway, tonight I shall make no such fashion faux pas as I sit and watch the opening ceremony on TV from the safety of my room in the Games Village.

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