NBC Olympics Schedule 2016: Rio Monday Event Guide, Live-Stream Info and Picks
All eyes will be on the track events on Monday at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, with the final of the men’s 800-metre event and women’s 400-metre race to come.
The two marquee finals are packed with illustrious competitors and are typically two of the most thrilling in the athletics schedule. Also on show will be the best men’s pole-vaulters on the planet, while medals will also be dished out in the women’s 3,000-metre steeplechase and the hammer.
If that wasn’t enough to whet the appetite, there’ll be action in boxing, track cycling and weightlifting to enjoy. Here’s the schedule for Monday, where you can catch the action and what’s to come in another chapter of these fascinating Games.
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| 8 a.m. | Women's 10KM marathon swimming final |
| 9:40 a.m. | Women's hammer final |
| 10:15 a.m. | Women's 3,000M steeplechase final |
| 1 p.m. | Men's rings |
| 1:54 p.m. | Men's vault |
| 2:46 p.m. | Women's beam |
| 4:23 p.m. | Men's omnium points race |
| 7:35 p.m. | Men's pole vault final |
| 9:25 p.m. | Men's 800M final |
| 9:45 p.m. | Women's 400M final |
Live coverage of the Games is available on BBC (UK). The action can be streamed via the NBC Sports app (U.S.) and BBC iPlayer (UK).
Monday Preview
Men’s 800-Metre Final
One of the most memorable performances of the 2012 Olympics in London came from Kenya’s David Rudisha, as he romped to gold over two laps of the track in a world-record time. He’s back in Brazil to defend his title and seek to better the stunning standard he set four years ago.
Admittedly, Rudisha isn’t quite as quick as he was in London, having failed to better that mark in the Olympiad since. He did win the event in the 2015 World Championships, although his time of one minute, 45.84 seconds, compared to his world record of 1:40.91, was modest by his high standards.
As noted by the Guardian’s Sean Ingle, the champion has been taking things easy enough en route to the final:
This year, Rudisha does look to have genuine competition for the gold medal, most notably in the form of Taoufik Makhloufi. The Algerian has been running well over the last 12 months, showing the kind of pace to keep in touch with the title-holder.
Even so, Rudisha should have enough versatility, speed in key moments and experience to take this one. Makhloufi can take it out quickly or hang on the shoulder of the Kenyan. But he ultimately won’t have the pace required late on to win this final.
Prediction: 1. Rudisha, 2. Makhloufi, 3. Pierre-Ambroise Bosse
Women’s 400-Metre Final
The race for this gold could be one of the most keenly contested on track, with a clutch of classy runners involved.
The Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller is a narrow favourite, having recently run an impressive time of 49.55 seconds in London—the fastest in the world this year. Provided she equals that standard, the 22-year-old will be extremely difficult to beat; there are plenty of competitors capable of high-speed laps, though.
One of those, undoubtedly, is Allyson Felix. The American is seeking to become a five-time Olympic champion and win her first in the 400-metre event, having failed to qualify for the 200-metre distance.
As noted by FloTrack, she’s posted some impressive times in the qualifying rounds with plenty left in the tank:
Although the likes of Stephenie Ann McPherson and Natasha Hastings will feel confident putting the aforementioned pair under pressure, it’s likely to boil down to a straight between Miller and Felix when the duo round the final bend on Monday.
Miller has the pace to win this one and seems to be peaking at the perfect time heading into the final. However, this will be her first Olympic final, and having been beaten by Felix in the final of the World Championships last year, expect the 30-year-old American to showcase her unflinching class on the biggest stage once again.
Prediction: 1. Felix, 2. Miller, 3. McPherson
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