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Who Will Win the First Medal in Rio?
It's only Day 1, but the medal count officially begins as the first medals will be awarded. Swimming, cycling, judo, fencing and shooting all have medal events on Saturday – and someone you’ve never heard of may become a household name by winning America’s first medal.
In the swimming competition medals will be awarded in the Men's 400m Individual Medley, Men's 400m Freestyle, Women's 400m Individual Medley and Women's 4x100m Freestyle Relay.
WATCH LIVE: New Jersey's Kelsi Worrell begins her journey toward gold with her first heat around 12:28 p.m.
In cycling, the Men's road race will take to the streets of Rio. In shooting, the Men's and Women's 10-meter air rifle medals will be awarded. In judo, the Men's 60 kg and Women's 48 kg champs will be crowned. And, who will be the best woman with a sword? The epee medals will be awarded.
Carli Lloyd, U.S. Women's Soccer Squares Off With France
After defeating New Zealand 2-0 Wednesday night on a goal from South Jersey's Carli Lloyd and her U.S. women's soccer team will take on France in their pursuit of a fourth straight gold medal.
Ranked No. 3 in the world, France will be no pushover, but a victory would be enough to lock in a quarterfinal spot for the Americans. [[389327622, C]]
The team is also trying to become the first squad to win Olympic Gold after winning the World Cup, a feat they'll try to accomplish without retired veteran stars Abby Wambach and Lauren Holiday.
Lloyd seemed to be already focused on France in the moments after the New Zealand win. [[389350282, C]]
How to Watch: Watch as Hope Solo and Team USA look to defend their Olympic title LIVE on your smartphone or desktop computer here, or on NBC Sports, at 4 p.m.
U.S. Women's Field Hockey Begins Journey Toward Gold
The U.S. Women's Field Hockey Team enters its opening match against Argentina more confident than ever after some big international finishes over the past few months. [[389352362, C]]
Montgomery County's Katie Bam leads the team full of nearly a dozen women from the region including Bucks County's Reinprecht sisters (Julie and Katie) and three-time Olympian (and fellow Bucks County native) Lauren Crandall.
Australia, Great Britain, India and Japan also await Team USA in the preliminary rounds, which wrap up Aug. 13.
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How to Watch: Watch as Katie Bam and Team USA look to start a march toward an Olympic gold LIVE on your smartphone or desktop computer here at 4 p.m.
Villanova's Kyle Lowry, Team USA Begin Quest for Gold
Led by an All-Star squad that includes Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Kyrie Irving and Philadelphia native Kyle Lowry, Team USA take will face China in the first game for both squads. Anthony, already in possession of two gold medals and bronze, looks to become the most decorated men’s basketball player in U.S. history as he participates in his fourth Olympic Games.
"He's going to be the leader of this team along with (Durant). And to have somebody who, this will be his fourth Olympics, that level of experience - and he's still a great player - and commitment, it's a godsend, really," U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "He'll be one of key factors in us attempting to win the gold medal."
For Lowry, who attended Cardinal Dougherty High School and Villanova University, it's his first Olympics. [[389328252, C]]
China, looking to improve on its 12th place finish in London, will be led by former NBA player Yi Jianlian.
How to Watch: See Team USA's march toward gold LIVE on your smartphone or desktop computer here. The event will air live on NBC Sports at 6 p.m.
Other Philly-area Olympians competing Saturday include Chester County equestrians Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton and Phoenixville, Pennsylvania's Tyler Nase rowing on the Men's 4.
16-Year-Old Phenom Sets His Eyes on Table Tennis Glory
Since table tennis became an Olympic sport in 1988 at the Seoul Games, the U.S. has failed to win a medal, as China has dominated the event. Will that change this year? If so, the U.S.'s biggest hope may be the youngest athlete competing at the Olympic Games.
Kanak Jha, 16, of Milpitas, Calif. is the first U.S athlete born in the 2000s to qualify for the Rio Olympics. He's not be old enough to be served alcohol in Rio, but he plans on serving up a dominating game in his pursuit of gold.
"I don't think it matters how old a person is because, in the end, you just want to win," Jha told NBC News.
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And if Jha does bring home a medal, he'll have to quickly hand it over to his mother Karuna, who first started playing against her son when his head could barely reach the table at five years of age.
"I started playing with him because he was too young," she said. "His head was below the table and nobody wanted to play with him."
How to Watch: See Jha compete LIVE at 9:30 a.m. against Nima Alamian of Iran on your smartphone or desktop computer here.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
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