BEIJING — The roar began as soon as Chen Yibing’s feet hit the mat, a primal scream that was four pressure-packed years in the making.

Only half the meet was over, but so was this competition.

China has the Olympic title it has long craved and everyone else expected. The Americans, meanwhile, won the bronze with a roster that was patched together at the last minute when not one, but both Hamm brothers were knocked out with injuries.

Japan, the defending Olympic champion, won the silver.

The Chinese began celebrating even before one of their gymnasts finished the last event. When little Zou Kai’s feet hit the mat with a thud, his teammates jumped up and down. They stood behind a large Chinese flag, tears flowing.

There were no tears from the Americans, only elation. When the final standings popped up, Jonathan Horton screamed: “Nobody believed in us! Nobody believed in us.” Linking arms, they posed for pictures, smiles spread wide across their faces.

The Chinese have won seven of the last eight world titles, including the last three, and have more individual titles than a royal family. For all that, though, they were still considered underachievers. There was just one Olympic title during this reign, and their collapse four years ago was one of epic proportions. Not only did they not win the gold they were supposed to, they went home with just two medals, only one gold.

But the failure fueled China, as did all those chants of “Jia You” that rang out throughout the arena Tuesday.

The Chinese strutted onto the floor, waving at their cheering fans and pumping their fists as if to remind everyone this was their party, and the other countries were simply lucky to get an invitation.

Beach Volleyball

Athens gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor cruised to a 2-0 record in the beach volleyball round-robin Tuesday, dispatching a pair of three-time Olympians from Cuba in straight sets.

With their 103rd consecutive victory, the Americans are virtually assured of reaching the Round of 16 that begins Friday.

Walsh and May-Treanor beat Dalixia Fernandez Grasset and Tamara Larrea 21-15, 21-16. The Cubans, ninth-place finishers in both Athens and Sydney, fell to 1-1.

Swimming

Phelps and Coughlin didn’t have long to savor their success. Both were back in the pool within an hour trying to qualify for another final.

Both made it, Phelps with the fastest time in the 200 butterfly and Coughlin in the 200 medley.

More qualifying was to come Tuesday, including Eric Shanteau in the 200 breaststroke only a few months after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. He’s postponed treatment to compete in Beijing.

Wrestling

American Spencer Mango won his opening match in the 55 kg class of Greco-Roman, defeating Romania’s Virgil Munteanu, 1-1, 5-2.

Weightlifting

Don’t mess with Chinese weightlifters. Chen Yanqing broke two Olympic records en route to her second straight gold medal in the women’s 58-kilogram category, making the host country 3-for-3 thus far.

“In 2004, I won the gold medal for myself. Today, I won it for all my supporters and fans,” the 29-year-old said, revealing that she almost quit the sport three times.

Later in the day, Zhang Xiangxiang won the men’s 62-kilogram division, upping China to 4-for-4.

After the medal ceremony, Zhang got down on his knees and bowed to the ecstatic home crowd. It was his second Olympic medal, after winning bronze in Sydney in another division.

Diving

Like Phelps, the Chinese divers are aiming for eight. And, like Phelps, they already have two.

Lin Yue and Huo Liang won the men’s 10-meter synchronized title, while the American tandem of David Boudia and Thomas Finchum slipped from third after four rounds to a fifth-place finish.

Volleyball

The U.S. women’s team lost to Cuba in three sets. The good news: Barbara Bachman, the mother of 2004 Olympian Elisabeth Bachman McCutcheon and the mother-in-law of U.S. men’s coach Hugh McCutcheon, has had her condition upgraded to stable after being stabbed by the attacker who also killed her husband and then himself.

U.S. setter Lindsey Berg said she wasn’t sure if the tragedy played into Monday’s loss, but said “it has been an emotionally draining 48 hours.”

“We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of assistance and generosity that we have received and hope to convey our appreciation to everyone who has supported us and kept us in their thoughts and prayers,” the McCutcheons wrote in an open letter.

Boxing

A fluke of a draw produced a rematch of last year’s featherweight world championship finals. Speed and savvy produced a different outcome, with Ukraine’s Vasyl Lomachenko beating Albert Selimov of Russia 14-7.

American Raynell Williams easily won his opener 9-1 over Italy’s Alessio di Savino, improving the U.S. team to 3-1 before lightweight Sadam Ali’s evening bout.

Alexey Tishchenko, Russia’s gold-medal featherweight in Athens, opened his attempt to add a lightweight gold to his collection with a 10-2 win over Tunisia’s Saifeddine Nejmaoui.

Rowing

The American women’s eight crew is headed to the finals after winning its heat. The men’s eight was second in its heat, dropping it into a second-chance race Tuesday in hopes of making the final; three guys are back from the crew that won the first U.S. gold medal in 40 years in that event at Athens.

Canoe-Kayak

In whitewater slalom singles, 19-year-old Benn Fraker finished 10th and advanced to the semifinals, but 29-year-old Scott Parsons missed a gate at the end of a strong run and was 20th in the single kayak and is done. Parsons was America’s best hope for a whitewater medal in the K-1, or one-man kayak class, which has historically been dominated by Europeans.

Water polo

The U.S. women’s team, with 10 first-time Olympians, overcame a shaky start to beat host China 12-11 in preliminary play.

“I can guarantee it won’t be like that the rest of the tournament,” Natalie Golda said.

In other preliminary action, Hungary beat the Netherlands 11-9, defending gold medalist Italy defeated reigning European champion Russia 9-8 and 2000 gold medalist Australia knocked off Greece 8-6.

Baseball

Two days before the tournament begins, the Americans won a tuneup game against China 7-3. Nate Schierholtz homered and doubled after the team received an on-field and dugout visit from President Bush, who stayed for about two innings. Fans and media weren’t allowed in until after Bush left.

Fencing

Italy’s Maria Valentina Vezzali won the women’s foil for her third straight Olympic gold in the event. Then came a terrific celebration that featured tears, getting carried off the podium by her coach and then riding off on his shoulders.

She took the lead on a touch with 4 seconds left and held off South Korean Nam Hyun-hee 6-5.

Badminton

Defending Olympic champions Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen of China lost to an unseeded Japanese duo in women’s doubles. The winners, Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna, bowed deeply in the center of the court as though they were praying.

American Raju Rai was ousted in singles. Defending champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia also was ousted.

Judo

Italy’s Giulia Quintavalle won the women’s 57-kilogram division, and Azerbaijan’s Elnur Mammadli stunned world champion Wang Ki-chun of South Korea to take the men’s 73-kilogram title.