3 Russia

Story lines: Viktoria Komova (above) and Aliya Mustafina try to topple U.S. favorites in the gymnastics all-around; pole vault great Yelena Isinbayeva, back from a year off, goes for her third straight gold.

Don't miss: The world's putative best pound-for-pound wrestler, Besik Kudukhov, looking to avenge a shocking pre-Games loss to No.2--ranked Franklin Gómez of Puerto Rico.

Hot button: Three women runners banned in July for doping.

Outlook: The next Olympic host country builds medal-count momentum for Sochi 2014 with judo buff Vladimir Putin watching.