Sport-by-sport capsules

Beach Volleyball

Where: Olympic Beach Volleyball Center, Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex.

When: Aug. 14-25; women’s final, Aug. 24; men’s final, Aug. 25.

Top U.S. performers: Men--Dain Blanton-Jeff Nygaard, Stein Metzger-Dax Holdren; Women--Misty May-Kerri Walsh, Holly McPeak-Elaine Youngs.

U.S. chances: Both women’s teams are medal contenders. May and Walsh are the top-ranked team in the world and are gold-medal favorites. McPeak and Youngs are ranked No. 4 in the world and have a good chance at a medal. As for the men, Blanton and Nygaard are ranked No. 7 in the world. Metzger and Holdren are No. 11.

Men’s outlook: Neither U.S. team enters the Olympics with much momentum, but Blanton has experience. He teamed with Eric Fonoimoana and won gold in 2000 even though they were ranked No. 9 in the world entering the Olympics.

Women’s outlook: May and Walsh won a record 15 consecutive tournaments between July 2003 and June ’04. McPeak and Youngs have finished among the top three in their last 11 tournaments, a string that includes five victories.

Little-known fact: This is the first year the sport will be played under rally-scoring rules, meaning the team receiving serve can score and games are played to 21 instead of 12.

You’ll remember: May and Walsh have already begun to make an impact in the mainstream with television commercials, talk show appearances and magazine covers. Should they win, they’ll become even more well known.

Peter Yoon, The Times

*

Archery

Where: Panathinaiko Stadium.

When: Aug. 18-21; finals -- women’s individual, Aug. 18; men’s individual, Aug. 19; women’s team, Aug. 2; men’s team, Aug. 21, 3:45 p.m.

Top U.S. performers: Butch Johnson, Vic Wunderle, Janet Dykman.

U.S. chances: U.S. men are well-seasoned at the elite level, winning team medals in three of the last four Olympics. U.S. women have won only one medal since 1976 -- a team bronze at the ’88 Games.

MEN’S OUTLOOK

Individual: Italy’s Michele Frangilli has won a major individual title three straight years in a row -- 2001 world indoor title, the 2002 world field title and the 2003 world outdoor title. Reigning Olympic champion Simon Fairweather of Australia faces tough odds as no archer has successfully defended an individual Olympic title.

Team: South Korea comes to Athens as the reigning Olympic and world team champions. Park Kyung Mo and Jang Yong-Ho were both members of Korea’s championship team four years ago in Sydney, and teammate Im Dong-Hyun won the Olympic test event in Athens last August.

WOMEN’S OUTLOOK

Individual: Host nations have won at least one gold medal at the last six Olympics, a record unrivaled by any of the 27 other sports. Three of those countries -- Spain, Australia and the former Soviet Union -- have not won an archery gold medal at any Games other than their own. All eyes in Athens will be on Evangelia Psarra, Greece’s best medal hope. It won’t be easy for her. South Korea’s Yun Mi-Jin is only the second archer in history to hold all four major titles at once.

Team: South Korea’s women archers have won every Olympic gold medal since 1980, a record that stands at nine medals and counting. Four years ago, Koreans won the team gold and all three individual medals, clear evidence of their dynasty.

Little-known fact: The archery competition will be staged in a narrow, marble stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. The current arena is built on top of the ancient stadium dating from 329 B.C.

You’ll remember: Korean men’s and women’s teams have combined to win 21 Olympic medals, eight more than the second-place U.S. The Koreans are disciplined, experienced and very deep in talent. “It’s tough to beat someone who trains full time,� Johnson said.

-- Tommy Hine, Hartford Courant

*

Baseball

Where: Olympic Baseball Centre, Helliniko Olympic Complex.

When: Aug. 15-25; final, Aug. 25

Top U.S. performers: The Greeks (Greece’s team is stocked with Americans of Greek ancestry).

U.S. chances: None, it failed to qualify.

Outlook: With the defending champion U.S. unable to qualify for Athens, 1992 and 1996 champion Cuba once again is the favorite for the gold medal. Two-time medalist Japan (bronze, silver) also is a factor despite the stroke suffered in March by Manager Shigeo Nagashima.

Little-known fact: Greek Manager Dimitris Goussios recently threatened to quit in protest of the inclusion of only two players from Greece on his roster (Greece’s baseball league is only five years old); the rest of the players are Americans and Canadians of Greek heritage.

You’ll remember: Cuban pitcher Norge Luis Vera, who has been compared favorably to fellow countrymen and current major league pitchers Orlando Hernandez and Jose Contreras. Vera, a 6-3 righty, throws a variety of pitches at different speeds and arm angles and had a 1.23 ERA in Sydney.

-- Michael Dobie, Newsday

*

Badminton

Where: Goudi Olympic Hall, Goudi Olympic Complex.

When: Aug. 14-21; finals -- women’s singles, Aug. 19; mixed doubles, Aug. 19; men’s doubles, Aug. 20; women’s doubles, Aug. 21; men’s singles, Aug. 21.

Top U.S. performers: The doubles team of Howard Bach and Kevin Han, the only U.S. players to qualify for Athens.

U.S. chances: No U.S. Olympian has advanced beyond the second round since badminton joined the Games in 1992. That is not likely to change this year.

MEN’S OUTLOOK

Olympic debut in 1992. In the men’s singles, Lin Dan and Chen Hong are ranked 1-2 in the world; their Chinese team is so strong reigning singles world champ Xia Xuanze did not make the roster. Peter Gade is the best on the perennially strong team from Denmark.

Doubles: Kim Dong-Moon and Ha Tae-Kwon from South Korea were bronze medalists in Sydney and silver medalists at the 2001 worlds, and Ha has recovered from a back injury suffered in 2003.

WOMEN’S OUTLOOK

Singles: The top three shuttlers in the world -- Gong Ruina, Zhang Ning and Zhou Mi -- are from China and could sweep the medals. Mia Audina, who won a silver in 1996 representing Indonesia, is playing for the Netherlands and will be a threat.

Doubles: China’s Gao Ling and Huang Sui won the last two world championships and should win in Athens. Gao won the bronze medal in Sydney with partner Qin Yiyuan.

Mixed doubles: China’s Gao Ling and Zhang Jun won gold in Sydney and are back but will be tested by reigning world champs Kim Dong-Moon and Ra Kyung-Min from South Korea.

Little-known fact: The world’s top players can hit a shuttlecock (the best of which are made from the feathers from the left wing of a goose) more than 200 miles per hour.

You’ll remember: China’s Lin Dan, a flamboyant 20-year-old lefty who likes to rip off his shirt after matches and hurl it into the crowd. The emotional “Super Dan� is the world’s top-ranked player.

--Michael Dobie, Newsday

*

Basketball

Where: Helliniko Indoor Arena, Helliniko Olympic Complex, and Olympic Indoor Hall, Olympic Sports Complex.

When: Aug. 14-28; finals -- women, Aug. 28; men, Aug. 28.

Top U.S. performers: Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Richard Jefferson; Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson.

U.S. chances: Both U.S. teams are favored for gold medals, though neither will be as dominant as in the past.

Men’s outlook: The U.S. lost its mantle of invincibility by finishing sixth at the 2002 world championships, then lost a core of seasoned players who withdrew for a variety of reasons this spring. Duncan and Iverson headline a callow group that includes LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade and Emeka Okafor. Yao Ming will suit up for China.

Women’s outlook: The Australians and Brazilians have closed the gap between themselves and the U.S., and Russia also is rapidly improving. All three challengers can score but no team plays defense like the U.S., which likely will make the difference again in Athens.

Little-known fact: The U.S. women really do have a coach on the floor in point guard Dawn Staley. Staley earned Atlantic 10 Conference coach of the year honors this season in leading Temple to a 21-10 record, the Atlantic-10 title and an NCAA tournament berth.

You’ll remember: Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson. Veteran U.S. center Leslie and her Australian nemesis Jackson engaged in a memorable game in the 2000 final; Jackson outplayed Leslie and yanked off her hair extension but the U.S. won. Jackson, 23, is the reigning MVP of the WNBA; Leslie is 32.

-- Michael Dobie, Newsday

*

Boxing

Venue: Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall.

When: Aug. 14-29; finals Aug. 28-29.

Top U.S. performers: Middleweight Andre Dirrell, light-heavyweight Andre Ward, super-heavyweight Jason Estrada.

U.S. chances: Once a dominant power in this sport, the United States now lags far behind Cuba and Russia. In Sydney in 2000, it failed to win a gold for the first time in 52 years. This 2004 team is young and inexperienced and has qualifiers in only nine of 11 weight classes, but it does have realistic medal hopes in Dirrell, Ward and Estrada.

OUTLOOK

Light-flyweight (106 lbs): The heavy favorite is three-time European champion Sergey Kazakov of Russia. Rau’shee Warren of the U.S. is just 17 and a decade younger than the best in this class.

Flyweight (112 lbs): World champ Somjit Jongjohor of Thailand is the favorite, but he could be challenged by Russia’s Georgi Balakshin. Ron Siler of the United States failed to make the team in 2000 and put off turning pro for another shot at Olympic glory.

Bantamweight (118 pounds): One of the two classes where the United States has no representative. Contenders include Russia’s Gennady Kovalev and Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Featherweight (125 lbs): The second of the two classes where the United States has no representative, but also one where the Russian-Cuban stranglehold could be broken. Keep an eye on Germany’s Vitaly Tajbert.

Lightweight (132 pounds): Bulgaria’s Dimitar Stilianov is Europe’s best and the best in the Americas is Cuba’s Mario Kindelan. U.S. hopeful Vicente Escobedo fights in the same weight class as his idol, 1992 Olympic champ Oscar de la Hoya.

Light-welterweight (141 pounds): The best are Russia’s Alexander Maletin, the Ukraine’s Igor Pashchuk and Venezuela’s Patric Lopez. Rock Allen, the U.S. representative, is trained by Naazim Richardson, who also guides the career of pro middleweight champ Bernard Hopkins.

Welterweight (151 lbs): Russia’s Oleg Saitov goes for his third consecutive gold, but he will be challenged by Cuba’s Lorenzo Aragon. U.S. hopeful Vanes Martirosyan is only 18, 12 years younger than Saitov.

Middleweight (165 pounds): At an Olympic test event in May, the 20-year-old Dirrell of Flint, Mich., defeated Cuba’s Yordanis Despaigne for the gold. That immediately stamped Dirrell as a medal contender, but he will be challenged here by Despaaigne and Russia’s Gaidarbek Gaidarbekov.

Light-heavyweight (178 lbs): Muhammad Ali (gold as Cassius Clay in 1960), Leon Spinks (gold in 1976) and Evander Holyfield (bronze in 1984) are previous U.S. medal winners in this class. Ward, a 20-year-old out of Oakland, is expected to join them, but he faces stiff competition in Russia’s Evgeny Makarenko.

Heavyweight (201 lbs): Another Russian, Alexander Alexeev, is the favorite, and other medal contenders include Belarus’ Viktor Zuev and Cuba’s Oldanier Solis. Devin Vargas, the U.S. representative, is a former high school football player and an inexperienced 22-year-old.

Super-heavyweight (above 201 lbs): Estrada, a 23-year-old out of Providence, was the only U.S. gold medal winner in this sport at last year’s Pan American Games. Russia’s Alexander Povetkin is Europe’s best.

Little-known fact: Thailand has won only nine Olympic medals in history and eight of them have come in boxing. Flyweight Jongjohor is expected to build on that tradition.

You’ll remember: In the last three years, Dirrell has jumped from fighting at 125 pounds to fighting at 165. But the added weight hasn’t robbed him of speed or quickness, so he is now a crowd-pleasing blend of power and skill.

--Skip Myslenski, Chicago Tribune

*

Canoe/Kayak Slalom

Where: Helliniko Olympic Canoe/Kayak Slalom Centre.

When: Aug. 17-20; finals, Aug. 18 and 20.

MEN’S OUTLOOK

Top U.S. performers: Joe Jacobi and Matt Taylor in double canoe.

U.S. chances: Jacobi could duplicate his 1992 gold-medal performance, but with a new partner in Taylor.

Single canoe: Slovakia’s Michal Martikan could win his third straight Olympic medal and will be looking to beat France’s Tony Estanguet.

Double canoe: Twins Peter and Pavol Hochschorner want to defend their 2000 gold medal.

Single kayak: Germany’s Thomas Schmidt blitzed the field in 2000 but will be hard-pressed to repeat in a deep field.

WOMEN’S OUTLOOK

Top U.S. performer: Rebecca Giddens.

U.S. chances: Giddens could contend for a medal. She won bronze in last year’s world championships and gold in 2002.

Single kayak: Two-time Olympic champion Stepanka Hilgertova of the Czech Republic will have her hands full against Elena Kaliska of Slovakia, Mandy Planert of Germany and Giddens.

Little known fact: Jamie McEwan, then a 19-year-old at Yale, won the first U.S. whitewater Olympic medal with a bronze in 1972.

You’ll remember: Jacobi, the only American to win gold with former partner Scott Strausbaugh.

Marlen Garcia, Chicago Tribune

*

Canoe/Kayak Flatwater

Where: Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre.

When: Aug. 23-28; finals Aug. 27-28.

MEN’S OUTLOOK

Top U.S. performer: Rami Zur, who represented Israel in 2000, specializes in 500-meter single kayak.

U.S. chances: Zur has the country’s best shot at a medal.

500-meter single kayak: Nathan Baggaley of Australia is a two-time world champion.

1,000 single kayak: Current world champ Ben Fouhy of New Zealand could lead a sweep by non-Europeans, who had been dominant for years.

500 double kayak: Two-time defending world champions Ronald Rauhe and Tim Wieskotter of Germany will be challenged by Marek Twardowski and Adam Wysocki of Poland.

1,000 double kayak: Two-time Olympic gold medalist Antonio Rossi of Italy will join Beniamino Bonomi but the duo could struggle against 2003 world champions Markus Oscarson and Henrik Nilsson of Sweden.

1,000 kayak fours: Teams from Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Bulgaria have ruled this event in the last four years.

500 single canoe: Germany’s Andreas Dittmer won bronze in Sydney and a world cup championship this year but longtime rival Maksim Opalev of Russia also is capable of winning gold.

1,000 single canoe: Since he won gold in Sydney, Dittmer has stayed on course with a world title. Still, Opalev will be tough to beat.

500 double canoe: Gyorgy Kozmann and Gyorgy Kolonics of Hungary are among the favorites.

1,000 double canoe: 2000 Olympic champion Florin Popescu and Silviu Simiocencu of Romania won the world race last year.

WOMEN’S OUTLOOK

Top U.S. performers: Kathy Colin, Carrie Johnson.

U.S. chances: The U.S. is not expected to medal.

Single kayak: Katalin Kovacs of Hungary is the reigning world champion but could be beaten by Canada’s Caroline Brunet, a silver medalist in Sydney and last year’s world championships.

Double kayak: Kovacs and Szilvia Szabo won silver in 2000, and Szabo has teamed with Kinga Bota since to win a world title.

Kayak fours: Hungary will be favored but Poland, Spain, Germany or the Ukraine also could medal.

Little-known fact: Kayaker Gert Fredriksson of Sweden won eight medals from 1948 to 1960.

You’ll remember: Birgit Fischer, 42, won 10 medals while competing for East Germany in the 1980 and ’88 Games and a unified Germany in 1992 and 2000. She has ended her retirement for the fourth time to compete in Athens.

-- Marlen Garcia, Chicago Tribune

*

Cycling

Where: Kotzia Square (road race); Vouliagmeni Olympic Centre (time trial); Olympic Velodrome at Athens Olympic Sports Complex (track); Parnitha Olympic Mountain Bike course (mountain bike).

When: Men’s road, Aug 14; women’s road, Aug. 15; women’s time trial, Aug. 18; men’s time trial, Aug. 18; men’s and women’s track events, Aug. 20-25; women’s mountain bike, Aug. 27; men’s mountain bike, Aug. 28.

Top U.S. performers: Marty Nothstein, Tyler Hamilton, George Hincapie, Dede Barry, Jennie Reed.

U.S. chances: Not much better than how the team fared during the 2000 Olympics when the U.S. picked up just three medals. Nothstein is the lone returning medal winner (match sprint) but will ride in a different event.

WOMEN’S OUTLOOK

Men’s road race: Viatcheslav Ekimov, who rides with Lance Armstrong for the U.S. Postal team, won in 2000, but look for Hincapie to make the podium.

Women’s road race: Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel of the Netherlands won both the road race and the time trial in 2000, but Demet may ride as if possessed in her first Olympic appearance.

Men’s time trial: Levi Leipheimer replaces six-time Tour de France winner and 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Armstrong here, but he won’t medal. Germany’s Jan Ullrich is the favorite.

Women’s time trial: Christine Thorburn of the U.S. had a meteoric rise this year, but the Dutch rider should be golden again.

Track men’s individual pursuit: Britain’s Paul Manning had a strong World Cup season, but watch out for Jerome Neuville of France.

Track men’s team pursuit: France, New Zealand, Germany.

Track men’s match sprint: Laurent Gane leads the always strong French.

Track men’s keirin: Nothstein is the lone American hopeful in this motor-paced event, but Gane and any German or Aussie stands as good a chance to medal.

Track men’s kilometer: Britain’s Chris Hoy is the favorite, but France’s Florian Rousseau can win if he’s entered.

Track team sprint: Germany and Britain will duke it out here, anchored by Carsten Bergmann and Chris Hoy.

Track men’s points race: Argentina’s Joan Llaneras Rosello is the front-runner, but Colby Pearce of the U.S. is in the medal hunt based on World Cup standings.

Track men’s American: Argentina’s Juan Esteban Curuchet and Walter Perez may be able to lap the field in this two-man tag team event.

Track women’s individual pursuit: New Zealand’s Sarah Ulmer will battle with Adrie Visser of the Netherlands for the gold.

Track women’s 500-meter time trial: Australia’s Anna Meares won the junior world title in 2001. The gold is hers to lose.

Track women’s match sprint: Reed can win this, but has to get past Australia’s Kerrie or Anna Meares.

Track women’s points race: New Zealand’s Joanne Kiesanowski and Aussie Alexis Rhodes can turn this into a podium triumph for their hemisphere.

Women’s mountain biking: Canada’s Alison Sydor will give Germany’s Sabine Spitz a tussle for gold.

Men’s mountain biking: Dude! The U.S. will not contend for a medal in a native California sport.

Little-known fact: The “American� is called the Madison in the U.S., named after Madison Square Garden, where the race was contested at the start of the 20th Century.

You’ll remember: Any Australian cyclist who medals and fails a drug test. The drug scandal is ripping at Aussie cycling the way it is at track and field in the U.S.

-- Gary Blockus, Allentown Morning Call

*

Artistic Gymnastics

Where: Olympic Indoor Hall, Olympic Sports Complex

When: Team -- men, Aug. 14, 16; women, Aug. 15, 17. Individual -- men’s all-around, Aug. 18; women’s all-around, Aug. 19; men’s and women’s apparatus finals, Aug. 22-23.

MEN’S OUTLOOK

Top U.S. performers: Paul Hamm, Morgan Hamm, Brett McClure and Jason Gatson.

U.S. chances: China is the team to beat, but the United States should contend for a medal for the first time since 1984.

Team: China and Russia are familiar faces at the top of the podium. That shouldn’t change.

All-around: Last year Paul Hamm became the first American to win a world championship in this event. He could give the United States its first Olympic gold medal but must hold off China’s Yang Wei.

Floor exercise: Twin brothers Paul and Morgan Hamm are capable of winning medals.

High bar: Reigning world champion Takehiro Kashima of Japan is favored but don’t count out Hamm or 2000 Olympic gold medalist Alexei Nemov of Russia.

Parallel bars: Li Xiaopeng of China won gold in Sydney and in last year’s world championships.

Pommel horse: China’s Teng Haibin and Kashima shared gold at the worlds.

Still rings: Greece’s Dimosthenis Tampakos, a silver medalist in 2000 and current world gold medalist with Bulgaria’s Jordan Jovtchev, will have a heavy following.

Vault: China’s Li is the current world champion.

WOMEN’S OUTLOOK

Top U.S. performers: Courtney Kupets, Courtney McCool, Carly Patterson.

U.S. chances: Excellent. The women, reigning world champions, are favored for gold.

Team: It should be the United States, making them the stars of television.

All-around: Russia’s Svetlana Khorkina, 25, won last year’s world championship, but teens Kupets, McCool and Patterson have been solid. McCool won the Athens test event earlier this year. Kupets and Patterson are co-national champions.

Balance beam: 2003 world champion Fan Ye of China won gold at the test event. Patterson has one of the most difficult routines in the world but struggled at trials.

Floor exercise: Brazil’s Daiane Dos Santos became South America’s first world champion gymnast last year.

Uneven bars: 2003 world co-champions Hollie Vise and Chellsie Memmel didn’t make the Olympic team, opening the door for 2000 Olympic champion Khorkina.

Vault: Elena Zamolodchikova, vault and floor gold medalist in Sydney, was edged by Oksana Chusovitina in last year’s world meet. Chusovitina, 29, could become the oldest champion since 1968.

Little-known fact: The 1996 Olympics in Atlanta marked the first time since 1896 that each men’s individual event was won by a different gymnast. It also was the first time each individual gold went to different countries.

You’ll remember: Blaine Wilson of the United States defied odds with his selection to his third and final Olympic team. Wilson tore his left biceps in February but made a spectacular comeback. On the women’s side, Mohini Bhardwaj, 25, of the United States had training and doctors’ bills piling up until actress Pamela Anderson began sponsoring her in the spring.

-- Marlen Garcia,Chicago Tribune

*

Diving

Where: Olympic Aquatic Center, Olympic Sports Complex.

When: Aug. 14, 16, 20-28; finals -- women’s 3-meter synchronized springboard and men’s synchronized 10-meter platform, Aug. 14; men’s 3-meter synchronized springboard and women’s synchronized 10-meter platform, Aug. 16; women’s 10-meter platform, Aug. 22; men’s 3-meter springboard, Aug. 24; women’s 3-meter springboard, Aug. 26; men’s 10-meter platform, Aug. 28.

Top U.S. performers: Laura Wilkinson (10-meter platform); Sara Hildebrand (3-meter platform); Troy Dumais (3-meter springboard) and Mark Ruiz and Kyle Prandi (10-meter synchronized platform).

U.S. chances: Don’t expect much. The U.S. won only one medal in Sydney -- a stunning win by Wilkinson on the platform. It was the worst showing for U.S. since the 1912 Stockholm Games. Dumais will compete in both springboard events for the second consecutive Olympics, teaming up with older brother Justin in synchronized.

UTLOOK

Men’s 3-meter springboard: Alexandre Despatie, ranked No. 1 in the world, set a Canadian record in the three-meter springboard at the team trials in June.

Women’s 3-meter springboard: The Chinese have claimed every gold medal in women’s springboard since 1988, and had won every gold in women’s platform since 1984 until Wilkinson halted that streak with her performance in 2000.

Men’s 10-meter platform: Tian Liang, who won the men’s platform in Sydney and took a silver in synchro, is the favorite.

Women’s 10-meter platform: Wilkinson is the defending Olympic champion and has maintained her consistency, winning the 2004 FINA Diving World Cup and back-to-back Speedo National Diving Championships in 2002 and 2003.

Men’s 3-meter synchronized platform: Tian will compete in both synchronized events with new partner Yang Jinghui, although they will be pushed by Robert Newbery and Mathew Helm of Australia.

Women’s 3-meter synchronized springboard: Guo Jingjing and her partner, Wu Minxia, will be challenged by Vera Ilyina and Yulia Pakhalina of Russia.

Men’s 10-meter synchronized platform: Yang replaced Hu Jia last year to team up with Tian for their first combined international appearance at the Daegu World University Games and emerged victorious before they clinched the Athens World Cup title in February.

Women’s 10-meter synchronized platform: Li Ting and Lao Lishi should contribute to the Chinese domination of diving in these Games. Both 17, they recently captured the world championships.

Little-known fact: Despite their recent struggles, the U.S. team has won 128 medals -- 49% of the total -- since this event became part of the Olympics a century ago.

You’ll remember: The tandem jumps in synchronized diving, when competitors try to execute with perfect coordination in take-off, speed of rotation, plunge and angle of entry into the water.

-- George Diaz, Orlando Sentinel

*

Equestrian

Where: Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre.

When: Aug. 15-27; finals -- individual and team event dressage, Aug. 15-16; individual and team event cross-country, Aug. 17; individual and team event jumping, Aug. 18; individual and team dressage grand prix, Aug. 20-21; individual dressage grand prix special, Aug. 23; team jumping, Aug. 24; individual dressage grand prix special, Aug. 25; individual jumping, Aug. 27.

Top U.S. performers: Debbie McDonald, Beezie Madden, Darren Chiacchia.

U.S. chances: Experts are saying this is one of the strongest, most balanced U.S. teams ever. The three-day eventing team, which won gold at the 2002 worlds, should battle France, Britain and Germany for a medal. McDonald is favored to win the first U.S. dressage medal since 1932 and the U.S. dressage team will be disappointed if it doesn’t medal. Both Chris Kappler and Madden, who was ranked No. 4 in the world going into the U.S. trials, could vie for individual show jumping medals and the U.S. team, which was disappointed with its medal-less 2000 performance, is hungry to medal.

OUTLOOK

Team three-day event: The U.S. team, having won the last major world championships in 2002, should contend for gold with Britain and France. A new format is being used with a shortened cross-country portion followed by two show jumping rounds on the same day on a larger-than-normal course.

Individual three-day event: Britain’s Pippa Funnell and her horse Primmore’s Pride have been the strongest in the world over the last 18 months. William Fox-Pitt and Tamarillo could make a one-two sweep for Britain. For the U.S., Chiacchia or Kim Severson could sneak in.

Team dressage: At the recent team competition in Aachen, Germany, which used the same judging panel as will be present in Athens, the powerful German team was the easy winner with the Netherlands second and the U.S. third. The Germans have won the last five team Olympic gold medals.

Individual dressage: Germany’s Ulla Salzgeber on Rusty is favored for gold. Other medal challengers are McDonald, Anky van Grunsven from the Netherlands, Jan Brink of Sweden and Martin Schaudt of Germany.

Team show jumping: The Germans, as in dressage, will be the favorites. The Dutch, French, Swiss and Irish teams should fight for the other two team medals. The U.S., which has fallen behind in world competitions since winning team gold in Los Angeles 20 years ago, has an outside chance.

Individual show jumping: Ludger Beerbaum of Germany and defending world champion Eric Navet of France should fight it out for the gold medal. Madden is a strong medal hope as is Marcus Ehning of Germany. Chris Kappler of the U.S., who was given a spot on the team as a reward for a spectacular 2003 season on his horse Royal Kaliber, will also be a medal hope if Royal Kaliber is recovered from an injury that has kept the horse out of prep work for nearly a month.

Little-known fact: Doping happens in equestrian competition too, with the horses. McDonald won her World Cup title last year after originally finishing second to Germany’s Salzgeber until Salzgeber’s horse was disqualified for testing positive for an illegal substance.

You’ll remember: McDonald, who turns 50 on Aug. 27, was a champion show jumping rider until a horse fell on her nearly a decade ago, causing severe internal injuries.

-- Diane Pucin, The Times

*

Fencing

Where: Fencing Hall, Helliniko Olympic Complex.

When: Aug. 14-22; finals -- men’s individual sabre Aug. 14; women’s individual epee, Aug. 15; men’s individual foil, Aug. 16; women’s individual sabre, Aug. 17; men’s individual epee, Aug. 17; women’s individual foil, Aug. 18; men’s team sabre, Aug. 19; women’s team epee, Aug. 20; men’s team foil, Aug. 21; men’s team epee, Aug. 22.

Top U.S. performers: Sada Jacobson, 21, is the top-ranked women’s sabre fencer in the world. Keeth Smart was the first American to be top-ranked in any discipline when he rose to No. 1 in men’s sabre last year.

U.S. chances: The men’s and women’s teams look to be the strongest ever fielded by the U.S., which has won only two medals, both bronze, since 1932. Jacobson will be a medal favorite in women’s sabre.

OUTLOOK

Men’s individual foil: The Italians have the world’s three top-ranked foil fencers in Andrea Cassara, Salvatore Sanzo and Simone Vanni. Peter Joppich and Ralf Bissdorf of Germany could break up the sweep.

Men’s team foil: Italy, which hasn’t won a team gold in foil since 1984, has a deep lineup and should fight it out with Germany and China.

Men’s individual epee: Alfredo Rota of Italy is top-ranked and clutch; in Sydney, his bout was the last in the men’s team epee final, and his win gave Italy the gold over France. Christoph Marik of Austria just won the European championship.

Men’s team epee: Defending champion Italy did not qualify for the team competition. France, which won the silver in Sydney, looms as the favorite, with Russia, Germany and Hungary the top challengers.

Men’s individual sabre: Vladimir Lukashenko of Ukraine leads the rankings by a wide margin but Russia’s Stanislav Pozdniakov, who won the gold in 1996, has been fencing well and would like to erase the memory of a round-of-16 upset loss in 2000.

Men’s team sabre: Russia has won the last three gold medals and is far and away the favorite again. The usual suspects -- Hungary, France, Italy -- will battle for silver.

Women’s individual foil: Italy’s Valentina Vezzali won the silver medal in 1996 and gold in 2000 and should add to her total in Athens. So should countrywoman Giovanna Trillini, who has won a gold and two bronze medals in this event.

Women’s individual epee: Laura Flessel-Colovic of France is ranked No. 1 in the world and has three Olympic medals, but will be challenged by countrywoman Maureen Nisima.

Women’s team epee: Five nations have won the six medals since the event was introduced in 1996, but only Germany has three fencers -- Britta Heidemann, Claudia Bokel and Imke Duplitzer -- ranked in the top 10 in the world.

Women’s individual sabre: American Sada Jacobson is ranked No. 1 in the world, sister Emily Jacobson is also in the top 10 and teammate Mariel Zagunis is peaking. The U.S. should win its first fencing medal since 1984 in an event that makes its debut in Athens.

Little-known fact: The last U.S. fencer to win an Olympic medal was Peter Westbrook (bronze in sabre, 1984), who is a mentor to four of the fencers on this U.S. team.

You’ll remember: Valentina Vezzali. The 30-year-old Italian was born on Valentine’s Day (what else) and just might be the best women’s foil fencer ever. A three-time world champion, she already owns four Olympic medals, including two golds in team foil, which was discontinued after Sydney.

Michael Dobie, Newsday

*

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Where: Galatsi Olympic Hall.

When: Aug. 26-29; finals -- group, Aug. 28; all-around, Aug. 29.

Top U.S. performer: Mary Sanders.

U.S. chances: Sanders, who finished ninth in the Athens test event, is the country’s only hope at a medal. She is the only U.S. competitor.

OUTLOOK

Group: Russia won gold in 2000 Olympics and in the 2003 world meet.

All-around: Russia’s Alina Kabaeva, bronze medalist in 2000, should contend for gold along with teammate Irina Tchachina and the Ukraine’s Anna Bessonova.

Little-known fact: Sanders, a citizen of the United States and Canada, finished ninth in the 2003 world championships, the best finish ever by a U.S. rhythmic gymnast.

You’ll remember: Bulgarian Simona Peycheva, 19, is making a comeback after serving a 10-month suspension for allegedly using a banned diuretic. Kabaeva and Tchachina were given one-year bans in 2001 for the same reason.

*

Trampoline Gymnastics

Where: Olympic Indoor Hall, Olympic Sports Complex.

When: Women, Aug. 20; men, Aug. 21.

Top U.S. performer: Jennifer Parilla is the only women’s representative. The United States did not qualify on the men’s side.

U.S. chances: Slim, though Parilla will try to improve on her ninth-place finish in the 2000 Games.

Women’s outlook: Karen Cockburn of Canada won bronze in 2000 and last year took home the world title. 2000 Olympic champ Irina Karavayeva of Russia also returns.

Men’s outlook: 2000 gold medalist Alexander Moskalenko of Russia, 2000 bronze medalist Mathieu Turgeon of Canada and current world champ Henrik Stehlik of Germany will vie for gold.

Little-known fact: Although Europeans have been dominant in this sport, the modern trampoline was invented by an American: George Nissen in 1936.

You’ll remember: Moskalenko, who is a five-time world champion and owns a world scoring record.

-- Marlen Garcia, Chicago Tribune

*

Field Hockey

Where: Olympic Hockey Centre, Helliniko Sports Complex.

When: Aug. 14-27; finals -- women, Aug. 26; men, Aug. 27.

U.S. chances: U.S. teams did not qualify.

Outlook: The Australian women and the Dutch men are both looking for three-peats. Both teams won the 2003 championships.

Little-known fact: Field hockey is the oldest ball-and-stick game and is believed to date from the earliest civilizations. The Arabs, Greeks, Persians and Romans had their own versions of hockey.

You’ll remember: India and Pakistan renew an old rivalry.

Jim Sarni, South Florida Sun-Sentinel