Rio Olympics viewer’s guide: Monday, Aug. 15

Less than 24 hours after Usain Bolt took gold in the 100 meters, a bevy of Americans hit the track with golden aspirations at the Rio Olympics. Here’s what to watch on August 15.

Track and field is once again the center of the attention.

Less than 24 hours after Usain Bolt took gold in the 100 meters, a bevy of Americans hit the track with golden aspirations. The U.S. led all countries with 28 track and field medals in 2012. If they hope to top that figure in Rio, Monday will be a crucial night.

Other things to watch: Simone Biles on the balance beam, Brazilian basketball fighting to stay alive in the Olympics, individual dressage finals and more.

Here are a few detailed notes on things to watch Monday, with a full TV guide below that:

Women’s 400 Meters (9:45 p.m. ET, NBC)

Felix entered the year looking for an Olympic double (200, 400 meters). But after failing to qualify for the U.S. 200 team, she’ll focus her efforts on winning the 400 (and any potential relays). The reigning world champ in the 400, Felix can surpass Jackie Joyner-Kersee as the most decorated U.S. female track and field Olympian of all time with a medal in the 400.

Men’s 800 Meters (9:25 p.m. ET, NBC)

The U.S. hasn’t won gold in the 800 since 1972. Boris Berian and Clayton Murphy will look to break that streak, but Kenya’s David Rudisha will be tough to beat. The world record holder in the event and the reigning gold medalist, Rudisha says he’s “almost close” to his dominant 2012 form.

Women’s Balance Beam (Tape delay, 8 p.m. ET, NBC)

Biles is back at it again Monday, looking for her fourth gold of the Games. A fun fact about Biles on the beam: Before she begins the event, Biles draws a chalk dollar sign on the beam. Why? She explained to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “[E]verybody puts their line on the beam, so I can never tell which one is mine. So, I put an 'S' on it, and it happens to turn into a dollar sign. People think I do it on purpose, but I don't."

TV Viewer's guide

Note: Not all events listed below are live, but you can watch every Olympic event live on NBCOlympics.com. 

All times Eastern.

8:00 a.m.

Swimming: Women’s, open water 10K (finals) — NBCSN

Canoe/Kayak: Qualifying — NBCSN

Track and Field: Finals: Women’s hammer throw; women’s steeplechase — NBCSN

9 a.m.

Field Hockey: Women’s, New Zealand vs. Australia — USA

10 a.m.

Track and Field: Women’s 200 meters (qualifying); men’s 400-meter hurdles (qualifying) — NBC

Volleyball: Men’s, U.S. vs. Mexico — NBC

(10:30 a.m.) Equestrian: Individual dressage (finals) — USA

11 a.m.

(11:30 a.m.) Field Hockey: Women’s, U.S. vs. Germany — NBCSN

Noon

Handball: Men’s, Poland vs. Slovenia — MSNBC

(12:30 p.m.) Badminton: Men’s, singles and doubles — USA

Table Tennis: Women’s, team (semifinals) — USA

1 p.m.

Water Polo: Women’s, Australia vs. Hungary (quarterfinal) — NBC

Wrestling: Men’s, Greco-Roman — NBCSN

Cycling: Men’s and Women’s, Omnium events — NBCSN

Beach Volleyball: Men’s (quarterfinals) — NBCSN

(1:15 p.m.) Basketball: Men’s, Nigeria vs. Brazil — MSNBC

2 p.m.

(2:30 p.m.) Canoe/Kayak: Semifinals — NBC

Synchronized Swimming: Duets (qualifying) — NBC

Beach Volleyball: Men’s (quarterfinals) — NBC

3 p.m.

Water Polo: Women’s, Italy vs. China — MSNBC

Badminton: Quarterfinals — MSNBC

Sailing: Men’s and Women’s, laser radial (finals) — MSNBC

4 p.m.

Volleyball: Men’s, Russia vs. Iran — NBCSN

Cycling: Men’s, Omnium— NBCSN

5 p.m.

Water Polo: Women’s, U.S. vs. Brazil — CNBC

6 p.m.

Basketball: Men’s, Spain vs. Argentina — NBCSN

8 p.m.

Wrestling: Men’s, Greco-Roman (finals) — NBCSN

Weightlifting: Men’s, 105kg (finals) — NBCSN

Diving: Springboard (qualifying) — NBC

Track and Field: Men’s, pole vault (finals) — NBC

Gymnastics: Apparatus finals: Men’s rings; men’s vault; women’s balance beam — NBC

9 p.m.

Track and Field: Finals: Men’s 800 meters (9:25 p.m.); women’s 400 meters (9:45 p.m.)  — NBC

(9:30 p.m.) Volleyball: Men’s, Brazil vs. France — NBCSN

Boxing: Men’s, heavyweight (finals) — NBCSN