BEIJING — The biggest, fiercest rivalry between the U.S. and Chinese Olympic teams involves the tiniest athletes on both teams, the pony-tailed pixies with rock-hard muscles and nerves of steel. Women's gymnastics is one sport in which the U.S. and China both dominate, so today's women's team final was the hottest ticket in town.

A crowd of 18,000 packed the National Indoor Stadium to see the showdown between the past two world champions, and it lived up to expectations. Hundreds of fans chanting "U-S-A!" and waving American flags were drowned out by the deafening cheers of the hometown fans.

The loudest cheer was yet to come. China won the gold medal thanks to brilliant bar routines, few mistakes, and two critical errors by U.S. gymnast Alicia Sacramone, a 20-year-old Brown University student and the team's emotional leader.

Sacramone fell as she got onto the beam, and fell during her floor exercise. The most expressive gymnast on the team, Sacramone buried her head into her hands as her floor score (14.1) was posted. So long as China performed well on floor, it would win the title, and that it did. The event ended with a flawless routine by Cheng Fei, and the Chinese fans erupted from their seats.

China tallied 188.9 points. The U.S. won the silver with 186.525 points and defending champion Romania won bronze with 181.525.

"I have mixed feelings," Sacramone said. "It's an honor to win a silver medal, but I have to live with the mistakes. We have to try to put a smile on and remember we did earn a silver medal."

U.S. teammate Nastia Liukin, who posted the highest mark of the event with a 16.9 on bars, said the team was trying to lift Sacramone's spirits. "She kept telling us she was sorry, but we keep telling her it's OK, she's human. We're not robots. We're human and humans make mistakes. (The Chinese) made less mistakes than we did, and it was their day to shine, but we're very proud of our silver medals."

MEN'S BASKETBALL

BEIJING — LeBron James simply knocked aside overmatched Angola players like a schoolyard bully, going wherever he wanted on the basketball court.

Dwyane Wade scored 19 points, James dominated the game with his size and strength on both ends, and the U.S. men's Olympic team wrapped up the easy portion of its schedule with a 97-76 victory yesterday.

The Americans (2-0) next face Greece, the team that stunned them two years ago in the semifinals of the world championship.

"I'm expecting this game right here to be tough," U.S. forward Carmelo Anthony said. "They know that we're coming back to redeem ourselves and I'm pretty sure that they watch us a lot."

Dwight Howard added 14 points and James finished with 12 for the Americans.

TENNIS

BEIJING — Even by the lofty standards of the Williams sisters, three victories at the Olympics is a good day's work.

They won in singles and doubles yesterday. Venus and Serena rallied in first-round doubles to beat Iveta Benesova and Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Earlier, the Williamses won second-round singles matches. Serena beat Samantha Stosur of Australia, 6-2, 6-0, and Venus swept Benesova, 6-1, 6-4.

Roger Federer advanced by beating Rafael Arevalo of El Salvador, 6-2, 6-4, while No. 2 Rafael Nadal sustained his summer surge by defeating Australian Lleyton Hewitt, 6-1, 6-2.

CYCLING

BEIJING — Kristin Armstrong of the United States won the gold medal in the women's time trial today, making her the second U.S. women's cyclist in history to become an Olympic champion. Armstrong finished the 14.6-mile course in 34 minutes, 51.72 seconds — 24.29 seconds better than Emma Pooley of Great Britain. Switzerland's Karin Thuerig was third, almost a minute behind the time set by Armstrong.

BOXING

BEIJING — Rau'Shee Warren worked four years to become the first two-time American boxing Olympian in 30 years. Then, in his first match, he made the huge mistake of spending the last 35 seconds trying to protect a lead when he actually was behind and needed to go on the attack. He lost 9-8 to South Korea's Lee Oksung and left the ring in tears. "I don't even know what happened," he said.

WRESTLING

BEIJING — There were surprise winners of the first two Greco-Roman golds and both were Russians: 19-year-old Islam-Beka Albiev in the 60-kilogram division and 21-year-old Nazyr Mankiev in the 55-kg field. Albiev is believed to be the second-youngest wrestling gold medalist. Mankiev beat the three-time defending world champion from Iran in the quarterfinals.

EQUESTRIAN

HONG KONG — American Gina Miles, riding McKinlaigh, won the individual silver medal in eventing. Gold went to German Hinrich Romeike, riding Marius. Germany won the gold in team eventing in an exciting showdown with Australia that went down to the final two riders.

ROWING

BEIJING — Bryan Volpenhein will get a chance to win a second Olympic rowing gold medal. The United States' men's eight boat, led by the 31-year-old Cincinnati native, won its second-chance race yesterday, securing a spot in Sunday's final at the Beijing Games. "It was a positive boost for us today," Volpenhein said.

KAYAK

BEIXIAOYING TOWN, China — Alexander Grimm of Germany won the gold medal in single kayak slalom yesterday. Fabien Lefevre of France was the silver medalist. Togo's Benjamin Boukpeti won the bronze medal, slamming his paddle to the frothy water in celebration. He is the first black man to in history medal in a slalom event, according to the International Canoe Federation.