Local Viewing Guide: Friday

Chicago-area athletes compete in rifle, discus, diving, swimming, water polo, tennis and basketball

Event: 50-meter Rifle Prone
Live Stream: Online coverage begins at 5:55 a.m.
Local to watch: Michael McPhail
Buzz: Michael McPhail of Darlington, Wis. will participate in his first Olympic Games this summer in London. The 30-year-old University of Wisconsin alum qualified for the men's 50m rifle prone event at Trials on June 5.

Event: Discus Throw
Live Stream: Online coverage begins at 1:00 p.m.
Local to watch: Gia Lewis-Smallwood
Buzz: At 33, Lewis-Smallwood, a former University of Illinois track athlete, is making her first appearance at the London Olympics. She has spent the last 11 years training to achieve her Olympic goal and is set to compete in the discus throw during the upcoming Track and Field events.

Event: Triple Jump
Live Stream:  Online coverage begins at 4:15 a.m.
Local to watch: Amanda Smock
Buzz: Amanda Smock, a triple jumper in the track and field events from Melrose, Minn., is the only American to head to London in the triple jump event. Smock failed to make the 2008 team but after her qualification at the trials will be celebrating her 30th birthday at the Opening Ceremonies July 27.

Event: 3,000-meter Steeplechase
Live Stream: Online coverage begins at 1:00 p.m.
Local to watch: Evan Jager
Buzz: Evan Jager, Jacobs High graduate, competes in distance running for track and field. The 20-year-old track athlete finished first in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase at the track and field Olympic trials, earning him a spot in the 2012 Olympics.

Event: 3-meter Springboard Preliminary
Live Stream: Online coverage begins at 8:30 a.m.
Local to watch: Christina Loukas
Buzz:  Diver Christina Loukas, former Olympian and nine-time national diving champion, competes in the 3 meter springboard event. The Riverwoods native and former Indiana University diver won her slot on the USA Dive Team June 17-24.

Event: 100-meter Fly
Live Stream: Online coverage begins at 1:30 p.m.
Local to watch: Tyler McGill
Buzz:  Tyler McGill will fight for his first-ever Olympic appearance. The Champaign native began swimming at 11 years old and won his ticket to London during his second attempt at the Olympic trials.

Event: Water Polo
Live Stream: Online coverage begins at 12:20 p.m.
Locals to watch: Melissa Seidemann, Betsey Armstrong
Buzz: Melissa Seidemann (L), born in Hoffman Estates, will travel to the Olympics for the first time as she joins Team USA's Water Polo team. Betsey Armstrong of Ann Arbor, Mich., qualified for the Olympic water polo team in the 2011 World League Super Final. She has proven herself an asset on the team, ensuring their qualification into the Oylmpic Games.

Event: Girls Basketball
Live Stream: Online coverage begins at 4:15 p.m.

  • Local to watch: Seimone Augustus
  • Buzz: Minnesota Lynx Player Seimone Augustus was considered as a leading basketball star since she was 14 when she was dubbed “the next Michael Jordan.” She set the Lynx team record for points in a single season at 744 points and was one of the only WNBA players in history to average over 20 points per game in a single season. She will be making a return to the Olympics where she will compete with Team USA once more.
  • Local to watch: Swin Cash
  • Buzz: Swin Cash of the Chicago Sky team was on the 2004 Olympic Team that took home a gold medal. Although a back injury short-circuited her chance for the 2008 team, she made a promising comeback for the 2012 Olympic Games.
  • Local to watch: Tamika Catchings
  • Buzz: Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings received her ticket to London with the Women's Basketball team, sending her to the Olympic Games for the third year. Catchings, named 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year, attended Adlai Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire before moving to Texas.
  • Local to watch: Sylvia Fowles
  • Buzz: Sylvia Fowles, Chicago Sky center, makes her return to the Olympics after taking the gold with the women's team at the 2008 Beijing Games. The 6-foot-6 player dubbed "Baby Shaq" is tied as the tallest player on her team.
  • Local to watch: Maya Moore
  • Buzz: Minnesota Lynx player Maya Moore is no stranger to winning. Having only lost 16 times in just under 10 years the basketball player has proven herself on the court. The Olympic team member will be part of an elite group of basketball athletes if she wins the gold, making her just one of seven having won in college championships, WNBA, FIBA world championship and the Olympics.
  • Local to watch: Candace Parker
  • Buzz: LA Sparks forward Candace Parker makes her second trip to the Olympics competing with the Women's Basketball team. The Naperville native was part of the 2008 women's team that took the gold at the Beijing Olympics.
  • Local to watch: Lindsay Whalen
  • Buzz: Lindsay Whalen, Hutchinson Minnesota native and Minnesota Lynx basketball player, was first taken into consideration for the 2012 Olympic team in the fall of 2009. She has since joined 20 other players on Team USA's basketball team for the London Games.

Event: Women's Soccer USA vs. New Zealand
Live Stream: Online coverage begins at 8:30 a.m.
Locals to watch: Amy LePeilbet, Lauren Cheney, Shannon Boxx
Buzz: The women have won all their games so far. A win in Friday's quarterfinal-event will bring them to the semifinals where they will face either Great Britain or Canada.

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