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2016 Rio Olympic Games: Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky take gold; Simone Biles shines

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Mon, Aug 8th 2016 08:55 am

Michael Phelps: "We wanted to bring that relay back to American soil. We had some sour tastes in our mouth from 2012."

NBC Olympics' primetime coverage of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, continued Sunday night on the networks of NBCUniversal.

Primetime host Bob Costas opened up coverage on NBC from NBC Olympics' studio located inside the International Broadcast Center in Rio. Primetime coverage on Day 2 of the Rio Games was highlighted by Michael Phelps winning his Olympic record 19th gold medal in the 4x100m free relay, and a gold medal win by Katie Ledecky, who broke her own world record in 400m free.

U.S. swimmer Dana Vollmer took bronze in the women's 100m fly.

Coverage on NBC also featured Simone Biles and the U.S. women's gymnastics team's performance in the qualification round. Biles, the three-time world all-around champion, had the top all-around score for Team USA, followed by Aly Raisman.

Following are highlights from the evening and primetime coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games on the networks of NBCUniversal:

SWIMMING - NBC

Phelps to Michele Tafoya, following the U.S. men's win in the 4x100 free final: "We wanted to bring that relay back to American soil. We had some sour tastes in our mouth from 2012. I'm glad that's back on our soil."

Play-by-play announcer Dan Hicks on the men's 4x100m free, as Phelps wins record 19th gold medal: "Phelps with Olympic gold medal No. 19! It was the United States that chased down France in 2008, the French turned the tables four years ago, and here in Rio in 2016, Nathan Adrian, Michael Phelps, Caeleb Dressel and Ryan Held get it done."

Analyst Rowdy Gaines on Phelps' turn in the second leg of the 4x100m free to give the U.S. the lead: "Where do you start? You start with the greatest of all-time. ... He goes underwater a full 15 meters off the wall and just blew by France."

Hicks on Ledecky, as she breaks her own world record in the 400m free: "We are still in amazement! Four years ago, the 800m free, and everyone in this arena doing the same, as Katie Ledecky smashes her own world record. ... As expected, Katie Ledecky is on her way to history."

Gaines on Ledecky: "She lives for these kinds of moments. Every time a big moment happens, she steps up and gets the job done. She hasn't lost in four years."

Gaines on Saturday's decision to allow Russian Yulia Efimova to compete in Rio: "I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I do not think she should be allowed to swim. She has tested positive for a banned substance on two separate occasions. A statement could have been made, and I think most of the sports world would agree that they wish it could have been made - and it just wasn't."

GYMNASTICS - NBC

Analyst Tim Daggett on the U.S. women in floor exercise: "Absolutely spectacular. That was tremendous. ... Everybody talks about how dominant Team USA has been on vaulting, but really, they are even more dominant on floor exercise."

Play-by-play announcer Al Trautwig on Team USA's performance in floor exercise: "There are teams that dream in an event that's scored like this to get rid of a 14.366 like the U.S. is going to do."

Liukin on Aly Raisman's vault: "I think that is the best that we have ever seen Aly Raisman do in competition."

DIVING - NBC

Play-by-play announcer Ted Robinson on China's Wu Minxia, winning her fifth gold medal in the women's synchro 3m springboard final: "If it's the last dive of her career, she ends with perfection. The first to five gold medals - has never lost in this event."

Analyst Cynthia Potter: "If you don't think that Wu Minxia owns this event, you're not living in this world, because she does."

TENNIS - BRAVO

Play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon on the upset of Serena and Venus Williams: "A stunner in Rio! For the first time in their Olympic career as teammates, the Williams sisters lose. A first round exit against Strycova and Safarova. ... At the age of 36 for Venus Williams, there is a real possibility that Serena and Venus have just played their last Olympics doubles match together."

SOCCER - NBCSN

Play-by-play announcer Mark Followill on Brazil's back-to-back draws in men's soccer: "Through 180 minutes. It's unimaginable. It's unthinkable. No goals for the host nation Brazil. Back-to-back scoreless draws. Someone forgot to tell South Africa and Iraq about the party planned."

MONDAY:

•Monday's live daytime coverage on NBC begins at 10 a.m., featuring swimming prelims headlined by Phelps (men's 200m fly), Ledecky and Missy Franklin (women's 200m free).

•NBCSN's live coverage on Monday begins at 9 a.m., and is highlighted by Team USA vs. Spain in women's basketball preliminary action, and two-time Olympic gold medalist Mariel Zagunis and Ibtihaj Muhammad in the women's individual sabre event in fencing.

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