Olympic Swimming TV Schedule: Top Contenders to Watch for on Saturday

The swimming events in the 2012 London Olympics have already provided plenty of theatrics, complete with legend Michael Phelps and his record-setting 21 Olympic medals.

But there's still more, including the women's 50-meter freestyle final and the men's 1,500-meter freestyle final on Saturday.

Here's a look at the top contenders for individual gold on Day 8 of the 2012 London Olympics, complete with TV times.

Women's 50m Freestyle Final (8 p.m.-12 a.m. ET, NBC)

Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Netherlands

It's no wonder Ranomi Kromowidjojo is the favorite headed into the women's 50-meter freestyle final. 

The 21-year-old already has a gold medal (100-meter freestyle) and a silver medal (4X100 freestyle) in the Olympics this year and she grabbed a silver in the 50-meter freestyle in the 2011 World Championships.

Kromowidjojo is red-hot right now and it's going to be hard to forget her last name after these Olympics.  

Marleen Veldhuis, Netherlands

What is it with the Dutch and swimming?

Aside from Kromowidjojo, the Netherlands also sports a prime contender in Marleen Veldhuis. 

The 33-year-old veteran has been around for a while, but don't forget that she broke her own world record in the 50-meter freestyle as recently as the 2008 FINA Short Course World Championships.

Overall, Veldhuis has won three medals in the Olympics, six gold medals in the World Championships and 20 gold medals in the European Championships.

Don't be surprised if Veldhuis rises to the occasion on Saturday. 

Aliaksandra Herasimenia, Belarus

Aliaksandra Herasimenia was suspended for doping from 2003 to 2005, but she's bounced back since, and supposedly done so naturally.

She's already won the silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle in the Olympics this year, coming off a personal best of 53.45 seconds in the 2011 World Championships.

The 26-year-old is more than capable of shocking the world come Saturday.

Men's 1500m Freestyle Final (8 p.m.-12 p.m. ET, NBC)

Sun Yang, China

Sun Yang not only won gold in the 1500-meter freestyle in the 2011 World Championships, he posted the fastest qualifying time in the Olympic heats on Friday.

Yang has already won three medals in the Olympics this year (including a gold in the 400-meter freestyle) and the 1500-meter freestyle is his best event.

Ryan Cochrane, Canada

Ryan Cochrane won a bronze medal in the 1500-meter freestyle in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and now he's back for more.

Cochrane finished second to Yang in the event in the 2011 World Championships, despite posting a personal best and national record.

It's going to be hard to catch Yang, but Cochrane figures to have the best chance.

Oussama Mellouli, Tunisia

Oussama Mellouli is the reigning Olympic gold medalist in the 1500-meter freestyle and he finished second to Yang in the heats on Friday.

There have been questions about Mellouli's ailing shoulder the past year or so, but it didn't appear to be a problem on Friday. He hasn't won a medal since 2010, but this is the defending champion we are talking about and he won gold in the 2010 World Championships.

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