Olympics 2012 Schedule: Day 3 Event Guide, Athletes to Watch, TV Info & More

There are plenty of medals on the line on the first Monday of the 2012 Olympics, and there is a boatload of TV coverage to capture all of the action.

Admittedly, the number of events and channels can make it tough to know when and where to watch. We'll try to help with that. 

Among other things going down on Monday, there is boxing, women's basketball, men's and women's team competition in gymnastics and a bunch of swimming medals to be had. 

Here is everything needed to help maximize the viewing experience. 

(Click Here for Full Olympic TV Schedule)

Event Info   *All times ET

Archery: Men's and Women's Individual 

TV: 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. on NBC SN

Badminton: Men's and Women's Singles and Doubles

TV: 6 a.m. - 6:30 a.m. NBC SN and 3:45 - 5 p.m. on MSNBC

Basketball: Women's Group Play

TV: 4 a.m. - 7 p.m. on NBC Specialty: Basketball, 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on MSNBC

Beach Volleyball: Men's and Women's Qualifying Rounds

TV: 5 a.m. - 6 a.m. on NBC SN, 10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. on MSNBC, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. NBC

Boxing: Elimination Bouts

TV: 3 a.m. - 4 a.m. on CNBC, 1:15 p.m. - 3 p.m. on NBC SN, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. on CNBC

Canoe/Kayak: Qualifying

TV: 3:35 a.m. - 1:35 a.m. on NBC, 1 p.m. 1:30 p.m. on NBC

Diving: Men's and Women's Synchronized Platform and Springboard Medal Round

TV: 10 p.m. (of July 29) - 3 a.m. on NBC, 4:35 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. on NBC, 11 p.m. - 3 a.m. (of July 31) on NBC

Equestrian: Individual and Team Cross-Country

TV: 8:15 a.m. - 12:45 a.m. on NBC SN

Men's Field Hockey

TV: 4 a.m. - 5 a.m. on NBC SN, 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. on MSNBC

Gymnastics: Men's and Women's Team Competition

10 p.m. (of July 29) - 3 a.m. on NBC, 3:35 a.m. - 4:35 a.m. on NBC, 4:35 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. on NBC, 11 p.m. - 3 a.m. (of July 31)

Rowing: Men's Four and Women's  Double Sculls

TV: 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m. on NBC

Shooting: Men's 10-meter Air Rifle Qualification and Finals and Men's Skeet Shooting Qualification

TV: 4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. on NBC SN

Swimming: (View the plethora of swimming events here) 

TV: 10 p.m. (of July 29) - 3 a.m. on NBC, 4:35 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. on NBC, 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. on NBC, 3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. on NBC, 11 p.m. - 3 a.m. (of July 31) on NBC

Table Tennis: Men's and Women's Singles

TV: 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. on MSNBC

Tennis: Men's and Women's Second Round

TV: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Bravo

Volleyball: Women's 

TV: 6:30 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. on NBC SN, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. on NBC, 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. on NBC SN

Water Polo: Women's

TV: 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. on MSNBC, 11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. on MSNBC, 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. on NBC

Weightlifting: Men's and Women's

TV: 3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. on MSNBC, 4:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. on MSNBC

Athletes to Watch

Jordyn Wieber, Gymnastics

Wieber will lead a strong U.S. women's gymnastics squad as they try to capture some hardware, and that is now her sole focus. 

Shockingly, Wieber won't be competing in the all-around competition after failing to qualify. She was one of the favorites to take home gold in that competition. Wieber won the all-around competition at the 2011 World Championships. 

Now she won't have the chance to chase that dream, but she can help propel her team to gold, and it is a good bet that she will do so in spectacular fashion. 

Lin Dan, Badminton 

China's Lin Dan is arguable the greatest badminton player to ever take up the sport. He is the defending Olympic gold medalist and has four world titles, two Asian Games gold medals and countless other championships.

He is not just great; this fiery competitor often puts on an entertaining show. On Monday, he will take on Ireland's Scott Evans. This shouldn't be a particularly close contest, but then again, if Dan plays up to his capabilities, none of them should be close. 

U.S. Women's Basketball Team

As dominant as the U.S. men's team is, they have nothing on the women. It would be an absolute shock if this team lost a game. 

They will take the court on Monday in a preliminary game against Angola. In their opener, the American women beat Croatia 81-56—that was their 31st straight Olympics win. 

Croatia actually had this one within four in the fourth quarter, then Angel McCoughtry and Tamika Catchings sparked the U.S. and the blowout followed.

This game shouldn't be close, but it is an excellent chance to see these talented women in action.