London 2012 Olympics: today at the Games

Golds up for grabs: 8 The big contest Four years ago, Beijing's water cube was dominated absolutely by Michael Phelps, who if he were a country would have finished higher than France, the Netherlands or Jamaica in the 2008 medals table – on his own . He won't repeat his record-breaking tally of eight golds this time, mostly because, in a fit of indolence, he is only competing in seven events. But another factor will be US team-mate Ryan Lochte, who emerged from Phelps's shadow to win four golds at last year's world championships to his rival's two, beating him twice in direct contests. The two are friends – but expect all that to be left behind once in the water. Was he afraid of Lochte, Phelps was asked this week. "The only things I'm afraid of are snakes and heights. I don't think Ryan's a snake, and I'm taller than him." Miaow! 400m individual medley 7.30pm Brit to watch That's easy. Six whole days after he rocketed down the Champs Elysées like a grinning rainbow Exocet to seal Team Sky's ridiculous domination of the Tour de France, Mark Cavendish is unmissable today in the men's road race. The best thing to come out of the Isle of Man since that odd-looking cat, Cavendish is world champion and, after winning his 23rd Tour stage last week – a world record – was named the best sprinter of all time by L'Equipe. Plus there's the small matter of one Bradley Wiggins returning the favours shown him in France and helping to pull his team-mate up the challenging Box Hill, nine times. Then, in the Mall, watch Cav go. From 10am Brit to watch no 2 Rebecca Adlington and Keri-Ann Payne may have dominated the glossy magazines in the past few weeks, but there is plenty more talent in the British women's swimming squad. Keep an eye out today for Hannah Miley in the 400m individual medley, where the 22-year-old starts as one of the favourites for gold. She's from Aberdeen, is coached by her dad and still trains in her local 25m pool where it's almost too shallow to tumble-turn – but is also the current European and Commonwealth champion. 8.09pm Grudge match Andy Murray v his Wimbledon demons. Less than three weeks after all those tears, Murray is back at SW19 for another go, this time for golds rather than a silver gilt cup. The absence of Nadal due to injury won't hurt, though Federer and Djokovic remain in his way. Plus, this time he's competing in the men's doubles, too, with brother Jamie – his first match today. Fourth match on court 2 World record watch Within hours of their event starting yesterday, in only a qualification round, the men's archery team from South Korea (note: that's South Korea) had already set two world records. One of them, incidentally, was achieved by Im Dong-Hyun , who is so poorly sighted he is registered legally blind (he just aims at what appears to him like a yellow blob). Further records in today's gold medal match seem a fair bet. From 9am The big question Just how easy is it to shoot when you're eight months pregnant? Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi, competing in the 10m air rifle shooting, will find out. The 29-year-old Malaysian, believed to be the most heavily pregnant woman ever to compete, has admitted she will need her unborn baby not to kick at crucial moments. Pregnancy has its advantages, however: "Now I have balance at the front and the back, so the stability is there." 8.15am Weather Sunny with showers in London, with a high of 20°C (68°F), low of 12°C (53°F). Chance of rain: 80%. Television coverage London Olympics coverage will run on the BBC on 26 TV channels, three radio stations and online, including blanket coverage on BBC1 and BBC3 and 5 Live Olympics Extra, a temporary digital radio service for the Games. Coverage of live events today starts at 8.30am on BBC3 and 9am on BBC1, and runs all day and evening, with a highlights package on BBC1 at 10.30pm. There are a further 24 dedicated Olympic digital services available on satellite, cable and online via the BBC red button.