Saturday at the Games

Utah connections

Onetime Utah cyclist Levi Leipheimer had a rough start and dropped out of the road race 2 1/2 laps from the finish (see related story).

Former BYU gymnast Guard Young helped the U.S. men's gymnastics team survive Saturday's qualification round (see related story).

Logan Tom of Salt Lake City had her own rough start to the Games as the U.S. women's volleyball team lost its opening match to China in four sets, 21-25, 25-23, 22-25, 18-25. The U.S. women, who never fully recovered from a shaky start, are scheduled next against Germany in pool competition Monday night.

Brazil's lone gymnast, Mosiah Rodrigues, finished 33rd in the individual all-around qualifications and did not score high enough to move into any medals rounds. His highest score was 9.60 in the pommel horse.

Three former Utah Starzz player competed in the opening day of women's basketball games: Elena Baranova led Russia to a 69-62 win over Greece, scoring 16 points and grabbing 12 rebounds to lead her team in both categories. Elisa Aguilar played 10 minutes and scored six points on 2-of-4 three-point shooting as her Spain team defeated the Czech Republic 80-78 in overtime. Michaela Pavlickova scored eight points on 4-of-9 shooting for the Czechs.

First pitch

Former President Bush borrowed a glove and threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Australia played Japan in the opener of the eight-team softball tournament. He received a warm ovation from the crowd.

Weather

Hot, hot, hot. Sunny and clear with a high of 96 degrees at Olympic stadium. Unshaded stretches of the road cycling course reached 104. Sunday's forecast is for partly cloudy morning skies, then afternoon and evening thundershowers and an expected high of 87.

Looking ahead

The men's team gymnastics gold-medal competition will be broadcast Monday at 7 p.m. on Ch. 5

Local TV

KSL-TV Ch. 5 will provide Olympic coverage during these times Sunday:

11 a.m.-5 p.m., 6-11 p.m., 11:35 p.m.-4 a.m.

Quote of the day

There were so many gods in old Greece that they couldn't all be offended by sports. — Athens historian John Rigos on the ancient Olympic Games being canceled in 393 A.D. by Roman Emperor Theodosius, who considered their pagan heritage an insult to Christianity