London Olympics 2012: Top 5 Storylines to Watch for on Day 5

Five days into the 2012 London Olympics, and we've already seen some stunning results. We're just getting warmed up, too, as there are still 12 more days to go.

On the docket for August 1, we have Missy Franklin and the U.S. women's swimming team attempting to take the gold medal over Australia and China. On the men's side, the 100-meter freestyle final will be compelling, headlined by Australian James "The Missile" Magnussen. Additionally, the U.S. women's basketball team will be playing their third game of the tourney against Turkey. 

These are a few of the compelling storylines for Wednesday, Aug. 1, at the 2012 Summer Games in London.

Will the Americans Earn a Trip to the Podium in the All-Around?

Sport: Gymnastics

Event: Men's All-Around Final

Time: 11:30 a.m. ET

Danell Lleyva (in photo) and John Orozco represent the United States in the 24-man individual all-around competition. Orozco, in particular, will be in the spotlight, after his subpar performance in the team final, where the U.S. placed fifth.

Japan, the silver medalist in the team race, has defending world champion Kohei Uchimora in action. He has been very inconsistent thus far at the Games but executes his tricks with a dazzling style that stands out among most of his foes.

For the hosts, Daniel Purvis is the top medal hope.

Kristin Armstrong, Road Warrior

Sport: Cycling

Event: Women's Time Trials Final

Time: 7:30 a.m. ET

Kristin Armstrong is a remarkable woman. She dominated this event in the 2008 Summer Games, retired to have her son, Lucas, and came back to the sport she loves one month after he was born.

She has won her last eight time trials in a row leading up to the Summer Games, and Armstrong is geared (pun intended) to win the gold medal again in 2012.

Armstrong is a tough woman. Besides the fact that she started training in earnest only a month after giving birth, she broke her clavicle during the Exergy Tour in Idaho in May of this year. Rather than quit for treatment, Armstrong got back up on her bike to finish the stage, according to the Idaho Statesman.

She's fully healed and ready for competition now, and Armstrong is the favorite to win this year's race in London, according to SI.com's Austin Murphy. 

Will Anyone Beat James Magnussen?

Sport: Swimming

Event: Men's 100-meter Freestyle

Time: 3:17 p.m. ET

James "The Missile" Magnussen is currently the fastest man in the world at the 100-meter sprint. He's the current World Champion, and his qualifying time of 47.10 seconds is the fastest in history, barring the records set between 2008 and 2009 when the sport went through their polyurethane suit era. 

Many consider those records to be null, since those suits have since been banned, according to the Courier Mail.

He'll be challenged by teammate James Roberts, Brazil's Cesar Cielo and Canada's Brent Hayden.

America's Nathan Adrian is a dark horse candidate to win the race, but he'll be lucky to make the podium against these tough competitors.

Can Missy Franklin and the US Women Win Gold?

Sport: Swimming

Event: Women's 4x200-meter Freestyle

Time: 3:57 p.m. ET

Missy Franklin and the U.S. women destroyed the field at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, beating second-place finishers Australia by well over one second—an eternity in such a short race. 

The Americans finished with a bronze medal in Beijing four years ago, though, and as we all know from the American men's team from the same year, anything can happen when the spotlight is shining. 

The main competition for the American women this year will certainly come from Australia and China—the two teams that finished second and third at the World Championships. 

Will Mariel Zagunis Win Her Third Consecutive Gold?

Sport: Fencing

Event: Women's Sabre Final

Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

Mariel Zagunis is the first U.S. fencer to win a gold medal in the Olympics in a hundred years, according to FoxNews.com. To honor her and her monumental achievements, Team USA gave her the right to be the flag bearer for the opening ceremony.

For her career, Zagunis has won two individual gold medals and two world championships. She was beaten by Russia's Sofiya Velikaya at the 2011 World Championships, though, and she'll have her work cut out for her this year to win another gold.

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