Radcliffe, who is still the women's marathon world record holder and a former world champion, has suffered with osteoarthritis in her foot during her career. As desperate as I was to be part of the amazing experience of the London Olympics, I don't want to be there below my best."
– With Michelle Obama cheering them on, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and the US men's basketball team tidily put France away today in a preliminary game, reports the New York Times, in the first step to defending their gold medal. Though France is led by Tony Parker and five other NBA stars, they proved no match for Team USA and fell 98-71. "They're going to be very, very tough to beat," Parker said. Elsewhere on the first Sunday of the London Games: With London calling for its first medal, Lizzie Armitstead answered, taking a close second-place finish in the women's cycling road race, reports Sky News. American Kimberly Rhode won the gold in skeet shooting, her fifth consecutive gold in the event, becoming the first American to accomplish the feat, reports the AP. Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter, Zara Phillips, made her Olympic debut in a dressage event, reports People. She'll compete tomorrow with a couple of famous cousins in attendance. American gymnast Jordyn Wieber failed to qualify for the all-around competition in a stunning turn of events, reports the AP. Heartbroken 38-year-old British marathoner Paula Radcliffe, stymied in four previous Games, pulled out of her event today with a foot injury, reports the BBC. Click through the gallery for other scenes from today's events.