Monday will be MIchael Phelps’ solo Rio debut, Ibtihaj Muhammad will be come the first U.S. athlete to wear a hijab in Olympic competition and the U.S. field hockey team will face Australia. Also, rugby sevens is making its Olympics debut at these games.
Day 3 of Olympic competition has already seen historic firsts, including the first women's rugby sevens medals and the first American athlete to compete wearing her hijab.
And, of course, every time Michael Phelps adds another medal to his collection, he is the first Olympian to have ever collected that many medals. That's how it works when you are the greatest of all time. He swam Monday night to qualify for another Olympic final.
Here are four of the biggest Things to Watch during the Summer Games Monday:
1) Michael Phelps Goes for More Gold
Baltimore’s Michael Phelps -- the most decorated Olympian of all time with a record 23 medals, 19 gold after Team USA's 4x100-meter freestyle relay victory Sunday -- entered his fifth Olympic Games looking to add a few more to his treasure trove.
Phelps took third in his 200-meter butterfly heat, then second in his semifinal to qualify for Tuesday night's final.
Phelps already possesses two gold medals and one silver in the 200-meter butterfly. While a number of incidents plagued Phelps following the 2012 London Games, the Olympian says he’s more focused than ever and determined to leave the sport on his own terms.
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“I haven’t trained like this in a decade,” Phelps told Matt Lauer in an earlier TODAY interview. “I want to retire how I want to retire and I have a great opportunity to do that.”
How to Watch: The semifinal is at 10 p.m. on NBC4.
2) Muslim Fencer From U.S. Makes History
Ibtihaj Muhammad, the middle daughter of a retired detective and special education teacher, made history Monday when she became the first U.S. athlete to compete in the Olympics while wearing a hijab, the head scarf worn by some Muslim women.
But, unfortunately, the Maplewood, New Jersey, native lost to Cecilia Berder of France, in her second bout, ending her run in the individual competition.
She'll next compete Saturday, Aug. 13 in the women's team saber.
Muhammad, who is ranked seventh in the world in the women’s saber, began fencing after her mother saw fencers practicing and suggested she try the sport because of its modest uniforms.
“I feel like I’ve been blessed to be in this position, to be given this platform,” said Muhammad. “When I think of my predecessors, and people who’ve spoken out against bigotry and hate, I feel like I owe it not just to myself but to my community to try and fight it.”
3) First-Ever Women’s Rugby Sevens Gold Medal
For the first time since the 1924 Paris Games, rugby is an Olympic sport. And world series champion Australia gritted out a win to claim the gold, over another powerhouse team, New Zealand.
Although the 15-player version of the sport appeared at the Olympic Games between 1900 and 1924, Rio 2016 marks the debut of rugby sevens, a faster, shorter adaption.
The variation of rugby sevens helped get the sport back in the Olympics.
“A lot of the determining factor of why rugby was brought back [to Olympics] is because of rugby sevens,” said Nick Sero, manager of digital media and communications for USA Rugby.
The fast-paced variation of the sport allows more games to be played in a short time frame. The game is divided into two halves of seven minutes each and extra time may be added if needed.
Both the men’s and women’s tournaments have 12 teams of seven starters and five substitutes, though only three substitutes are allowed in any match.
The U.S. women’s team was eliminated by New Zealand 5-0 in the quarterfinals Sunday.
4) Field Hockey Builds on Last-Place Finish
The U.S. women’s field hockey team finished last at the London Olympics, winning just one of its six games. But that was so four years ago.
Following the 2012 Games, the team brought in a new coach, Craig Parnham, and overhauled its system. And they are seeing early success: Monday, the U.S. beat Australia, which is ranked third in the world.
This year's team has a legitimate shot at a medal, something the U.S. hasn’t accomplished in the sport since 1984.
The team includes University of Maryland graduates Katie Bam and University of Maryland graduate Jill Witmer, Casey Di Nardo and Stefanie Fee of Virginia Beach, and University of Virginia graduate Michelle Vittese.
