- 8 Jul 08, 08:40 AM
In exactly one month's time, the Olympics in Beijing will finally get going. Which athletes will you be watching, and why?
If you're British, the answer is usually somebody else who's British.
But with almost 300 Brits competing in Beijing, you might struggle to narrow the list down to 10. That's what we've been trying to do in the office, and I bring you the results of the subsequent, incredibly unscientific, straw poll.
If you're not British or bored with national fervour on the back of Wimbledon and Silverstone, read on to see the international athletes we've picked.
We chose athletes according to a number of factors - for example how likely they are to win gold, how captivating their path to Beijing has been, and the profile of their sport - but it boils down to choosing 10 athletes you think are going to be worth watching above all others, whatever the reason.
Once you've read through our list, tell us which ones you think we've missed out, or who you will be watching, and why. (Finding them attractive is not a good enough reason, so come up with a better excuse for including your Olympic hunk/babe of choice.)
The BBC Sport Olympics office's (preliminary) ten to watch are:
Tom Daley, 14-year-old diving prodigy - he's not a medal favourite but has worked wonders to even reach the Games
Phillips Idowu, the triple jumper with wild hair, facial piercings and a world indoor title to his name
Shanaze Reade, the girl from Crewe who wins most of her BMX races by miles, a gold medal prospect in the sport's Olympic debut
Ben Ainslie, the Cornishman going for a hat-trick of gold medals in Olympic sailing
Christine Ohuruogu, set to run in the 400m having had her Olympic ban (for missing three drugs tests) overturned
Katherine Grainger, the Scot aiming to lead Britain's women to their first ever Olympic rowing gold at her third Games
Liam Tancock, short course world champion in the 100m backstroke and world 50m backstroke record holder
Victoria Pendleton, the track cyclist who bombed at Athens in 2004 but has come back a strong favourite for Beijing
Kelly Sotherton, who won't have to face her two main heptathlon rivals, Carolina Klüft (withdrew) and Jessica Ennis (injured)
Frankie Gavin, the Birmingham southpaw boxer at the head of British boxing's unprecedented eight-man Olympic squad
Bubbling under: Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson in the badminton, cyclist Mark Cavendish, kayaking's Campbell Walsh and many, many more. What about Paula Radcliffe and Dwain Chambers if they make the trip? (Big "ifs", for wildly differing reasons.)
And here is our international selection:
Michael Phelps, the US swimming legend aiming to beat Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in a single Games
Liu Xiang, China's great hope and billed as the (male) Cathy Freeman figure of the 2008 Olympics. The entire country expects gold in the 110m hurdles
Dayron Robles, who smashed the 110m hurdles world record in June. The Cuban stands between Liu Xiang and immortality
Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay, who have traded record 100m times in 2008, and who ought to produce a sub-10 seconds duel that defines the Games
Kobe Bryant, the NBA's most-valuable player heading the latest "dream team" vying to salvage some Olympic pride for US basketball
Yao Ming, at 7'6" literally China's biggest star, and the most recognised Chinese athlete around the world
Roman Sebrle, Czech world record-holding world champion in the decathlon, possibly the world's greatest all-rounder
Natalie Du Toit, the inspirational swimmer whose left leg was amputated after a scooter accident, has qualified to compete in the open water race
Gete Wami, one of the greatest female distance athletes of all time, bidding to win marathon gold
Gro Hammerseng, Norwegian handball captain who plays a part in a campaign for human rights in China
A little closer to the big Olympic kick-off we'll be writing in-depth profiles of athletes that make it into our final ten, so this is your chance to influence who makes it in.
Help us refine the list by telling us who else deserves consideration and why - and don't be afraid to say which athletes in our list ought to lose their places to make way!
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Men's lightweight double sculls, Purchase and Hunter.
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Richard Faulds as he tries to repeat his Gold from Sydney in the Double trap shooting, and Charlotte Kerwood who has won gold at two Commonwealth Games and seeks to do the same this time round.
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Nicola Sanders and andy Baddely?
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Bradley Wiggins!
If he repeats his performances of the Track World Championships earlier this year, he will win 3 gold medals in Beijing. In the Individiual Pursuit, Team Pursuit and Madison. And there is a strong chance of him at least getting two - being the big favourite for the Individual pursuit, and also with Britain the world record holders in the Team Pursuit. Overall, Wiggins will be in 5 events as he is to participate in the road cyclign events too. (Road race and time trial)
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Richard Kruse was a quarter-finalist in men's fencing in Athens. He narrowly missed qualifying this year due to injury, but then received a wild card a couple of weeks ago so he is off to Beijing to try to go one better and finish in the medals!!
Our other fencer is Alex O'Connell - former world #1 at both U17 and then U20 level. Not as experienced as Richard, but a rising star
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The Yngling girls!
Tim Brabants in the Kayak
Rebecca Adlington in the 800m free.
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Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes in sailing's 49er class. In the most exciting boat on the water, Britain's 2007 world champs will be real contenders for gold.
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How many races does Andy Baddeley have to win, blowing all competition away, before people recognise him as one of Britains greatest athletes?
Dream Mile, And 3000m in France, and thats in the last month... Come on BBC, sort it out!
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I would have thought that the men's lightweight double skulls were in with a pretty good chance after their impressive performances recently...no pressure boys!!!
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Surely Bradley Wiggins must be top of any list. He won a full set of medals in Athens and has been untouchable in the individual pursuit for quite some time. Vicky Pendleton has a good chance, certainly, but the sprint is always a bit of a lottery and she hasn't got another string to her bow. Wiggins has three real chances of gold, probably being favourite in the two pursuits which are far less of a chancy affair as the sprint. He's never received the acclaim his medals at Athens deserved - surely it's not just because of the ginger hair?
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What about James de Gale in the boxing. He's one of our brightest hopes!
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bigdanprice (8), I nearly put Andy Baddeley in, honest! His Dream Mile time put him second fastest in Europe this year and a Times article last month called him an "Olympic dark horse", which I think is a fair statement, but I'm not sure that if I've only got 10 slots and 300 Brits to choose from, Andy is going to get the nod. That said, if enough people back up you and archleftback (3) and yell his name at me, we'll have to think again!
llamafarmer82 (7), you do make a good point about Morrison and Rhodes being good to watch, purely from the point of view of the 49er being an exciting spectacle, let alone their gold medal potential.
TheEarl (6), I tried to weasel Campbell Walsh into the ten Brits but got shouted down - Brabants and Walsh are equally good medal chances, I reckon, but it's not just medals we're talking about.
SportingNonsense (4) and ancientscrunty (10), Wiggins over Pendleton is interesting. It's mightily close between so many British cyclists that I don't know how we're going to pick one. Those are two very well-reasoned arguments for Wiggins though.
Finally jayeatman (1) and annaleesmith (9), I had Zac Purchase as my rowing selection but was over-ruled by our rowing-mad Olympics editor, who went for Grainger. Never one to say "I told you so" to the boss, but...
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In no particular order...
Victoria Pendleton and Barry Wiggins. They (and the entire British cycle team) are incredible.
And yes, she is very attractive.
I really hope Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson can go one better than in Athens.
Kelly Sotherton and Roman Sebrle and all the multi-event competitors. Those people are superhuman (and Daley Thompson is my sporting hero).
Tom Daley. I don't think we've had such sporting talent from Plymouth since Sharron Davies (also in the pool).
And all the British rowers but then we have been rather spoilt in this discipline over the last quarter-century!
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"Which athletes will you be watching, and why?
If you're British, the answer is usually somebody else who's British."
Apologies for the double post, but I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that people also like to watch the sportsmen-and-women in the events in which they themselves compete. Kind of obvious really.
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Saunders is running better than Ohurigu though neither are within a second of Sanya Richards.
Hope so with Phillips, though its such a tricky event.
And Sotherton well, I doubt it unless she stops throwing the javalin like a girl.
Got to be some more track cyclists in there, Bradley Wiggens, Hoy etc and some rowers?
Spoilt for choice which is nice
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How many more times has Andy Baddley......... after all his best time this year makes him the 16th fastest man over 1500m and wouldn't have even got him into the top 20 last year - come on BBC sort it out
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What about Alex Hua-Tuan? (I think that's right) He's on a gap year from school arranged espacially so that he can qualify for the olympics and compete in Eventing. He's secured massive sponsorship from a Chinese businessman and has managed to procure and qualify four horses in the past few months. Anyone who knows anything about equestrianism knows that this is as close to impossible as you can get. Added to which he is one of the youngest ever Olympians in this discipline at 18, and is China's first ever competitor in Eventing. His determination is such that you never know - he might be on for a medal at this rate!
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Crista Cullen of the GB Ladies Hockey squad. Hockey machine and nice lady to boot.
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Blanka Vlasic in the high jump the woman is unbeatable
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Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.
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Sorry to suggest another cyclist but lets face it the current GB team is incredible. How about Rebecca Romero who is going for the individual pursuit title having won an Olympic medal in Athens for rowing. I can't remember any other Brit achieving such a feat in my lieftime (and I can remember back to 1968 in Mexico).
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What about yelena Isinbayeva? Cant believe you,ve left her out!!!
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tyson gay vs. usain bolt is what i am looking forward to most, but i think that asafa powell could have something to say about that - although IMHO he is a bit of a choker - not even sure if he is going.
Philips Idowu, Kelly Southerton, Isinbeyeva, also the british team who ride in the velodrome - not sure if the guys from last time will be there but i watched them in a comp earlier this year and it was awesome. i think actually i will have to say events so;
mens triple jump, heptahlon, all the sprints and relays, the gymnastics - men and women, swimming/rowing and the marathon which i think geta wami will win. am looking forward to the closing ceremony also to see what we have to look forward to in 2012
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how could i forget the tennis
nadal v federer
williams v williams and of course the murray brothers,
will be up watching alot me thinks
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Spottedjock (21) - I'm all about the Romero. I got to write a profile of her a few months back and her achievement is staggering, but in the face of all her cycling team-mates, do we go for her over Wiggins or Pendleton, or Hoy for that matter? I need a definitive reason to choose one over the others - is it Romero's dual-sport prowess, or Wiggins's multiple medal chances?
As for tennis, Nadal and Federer have just had almost five hours of the best tennis you'll ever see on prime time on BBC1 and they're still hogging the website. They can go back in the box for the time being but I take the point (and how about the Murrays in the doubles?).
Cityofbored (19), I should know more about Blanka Vla?ic but I don't, so I'm off to read up. Good suggestion. Ditto northerngirlie (17) - Alex Hua Tin is the one you mean, and we're hoping to get an interview with him soon. But with only 10 spaces for international athletes, can we fit him in alongside our other two Chinese picks?
Billiethezwerg (16), very good point, there are seven - count 'em - Kenyans above Baddeley in the IAAF list for 2008. A tall order for Beijing, surely, but I still reckon the "dark horse" tag is fair enough.
Simonwebb85 (18), I'm a huge Crista fan, I spent Sunday filming with her and the rest of the GB team in Cannock. She's the star of our video guides to hockey this summer, so watch out for them. She's also been writing for us on 606, as have a number of other athletes mentioned so far - check them all out on the Team GB page:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/team_gb/default.stm
And dowsonk (15), couldn't agree more. It's great to have so many names already and there's countless others we could mention. Maybe if I start now I can write profiles for a top 100...
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Yeah Romero was impressive in the worlds and getting better all the time, I would be amazed if she came back with nothing.
Paula if fit should obviously be in there, though can't find any recent news.
As for Baddely. He's done very well but if he makes the final I would be suprised (though pleasantly). He's just not got the pace of the Africans, medal chance 0.
We do have some good middle distance women who are in with a shout, Simpson, Okoro and Meadows and Becky Lynne (Still injured)
Also how about the 4x400 womens team. If we have strong start we could have a good shout (unlike the worlds, what a disaster).
PS Bradley must be in there
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I look forward to the same lists for the Paralympics, or is that being to hopefull considering the lack of coverage so far.
We keep seeing these lists of the ones to watch but never for the Paralympics and also never linked to the Olympics or looking at both Olympians and Paralympians together.
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jeremy wariner and lashawn merritt
kenenisa bekele
allyson felix
r some more i would have on the international list
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
dragonsbreath-Enough about Christine Ohuruogh already. She was servd her time (what are you on your high horse for- I'm sure you've made some silly mistakes in the past?). Good luck to her
Ollie- I'd also go for the women's team in the archery for a medal and Livingstone for a medal in the women's penthathlon.
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You mentioned Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms in the badminton but I wouldn't rule out Donna Kellogg and Anthony Clark. Although ranked lower than Nathan and Gail they seem more able to string together consistent performances. Don't forget that Nathan's olympic preparation has been hampered by the fact that he had surgery not that long ago and hasn't been able to play as much as he would have liked.
Also Andy Murray in the tennis singles and he Murray brothers in the doubles. Andy is top of his game at the moment and might pull off a good run in the olympics. Andy and Jamie compliment each other well in the doubles and other partnerships may find them difficult to break down.
Come on Team GB!!!
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The whole of the British Track Cycling Squad is looking fantastic - Great Britain could get as many as half of their gold medals at the velodrome.
I'm tipping Blanka Vlasic for the womens high jump but I doubt I'd get very good odds!
And like the previous comment, after a fantatsic Wimbledon, I can hardly wait to see the Murray boys in the men's doubles in the tennis!
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Hello!?! - Nicole Cooke?!?
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I think the selections are all very valid so far, but thought I'd give a mention to the triathlon team.
A bit harder to guarantee a medal, but after Helen Tuckers gold at the world championships (in what is surely the hardest event at the olympics), she is definitly one to watch. With Tim Don and 3 other youngsters (Clarke, Brownlee and Avil) as well, it should be a great event to watch!
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Typical backwards article. No mention of any football players who will be taking part in the football tournament.
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The Brazilian Football squad!
Its a who's who of the next wave of superstar brazilians, plus a few old faces!
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Anna Bebbington and Elise Laverick in the womens double skulls.....they came 1st in the world championships last month.
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Nicole Cooke has to be in there. If being the former Tour de France, Giro Italia and Tour of Germany winner, gold at the commonwealth games and winner of 8 straight British road races is not good enough to be one to watch, then I don't know what is.
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What about Jonathan Willis? He is currently the british number one at Epee and is a really good fencer. He is head-and-shoulders above all the other Epeeists in the UK at the moment and has a very good reputation worldwide; picking up victories in mant A-Grade international events.
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Surely 3 medals in 2 Games means that the Modern Pentathletes have to be the ones to watch? Both Katy Livingstone and Heather Fell have had awesome seasons and now we have 2 men qualified too, with Sam Weale and Nick Woodbridge. Hopefully they can follow in the footsteps of Cook, Allenby and Harland....
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There is always Richard Kruse, European silver medallist and Olympic quarter finalist Athens 2004, he beat the current olympic gold medallist in Izmir at the Europeans, and is one of Britain more realistic chances of getting a medal.
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There will be some great Paralympians to look out for too..
One Special one is
Dervis Konuralp.. he will be the only swimmer from London to take part in either the Olympic or Paralympics when he swims for GB Paralympic team.
Get behind him London and GB!
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stevegell1 (37), add them to the pile of rowers in with a shout. What I want to know is why choose Bebington and Laverick over, say, Purchase and Hunter, or Grainger and the quad scull?
Davingdersangha (35), that's a tad harsh isn't it! With the greatest respect to football, which I love dearly, there are no Brits in the football tournament so they're not going to crop up in the 10 Brits. On an international level I can see why Hursticles (36) would want the Brazilians in (as my beloved Man City build their Brazilian dream team) but I'm not sure they warrant a place in the absolute top 10 athletes to watch out of the whole Olympics. I'll go and have a look at their squad, if only to see who Mark Hughes is going to sign next.
Smill45 (33), hello - why? Why Nicole Cooke and not any of the other cyclists? Give me reasons. She's won more women's road races than I've had hot dinners but does that put her above the almighty Wiggins if I'm only allowed one cyclist? He's getting plenty of votes, Pendleton's place in my line-up is looking very shaky. My colleague Pete Scrivener, of Olympic Countdown fame, has just said to me, "Why not include the entire GB cycling team as one to watch?"
Triathlon definitely warrants more of a mention than I gave it, anyone else have triathlon views?
TheEarl (30), Katy Livingston has a very good medal chance, but so does Heather Fell, who came in just behind Livingston in the World Champs, so there's two strong British prospects there. The problem with pentathlon, from a 10-to-watch point of view, is trying to explain the sport to people (it's actually a very good watch once you know what's going on!).
KennyH1 (27), that's a valid point to make. This post was just about the Olympics but we'll definitely be previewing Paralympic athletes to watch in similar fashion, where it's arguably even more necessary because not as many people know who to be looking out for.
Keep all these suggestions coming in, they're very much appreciated and we'll probably use some of your comments in the eventual profiles we write.
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Crikey, it took me that long to write my last reply that Kapelnikov (38) and fast1500 (40) got there before me in the Nicole Cooke and modern pentathlon stakes. Thanks both, and also luckytommysmith (42) for the mention of Hackney's Dervis Konuralp.
bazepeemaster (39) - Willis isn't going to the Games to compete, but we think he's on the list to go for the experience with a view to 2012.
Must type faster in future.
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Clark and Bassadone 470 sailing, watch this space!!
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The Olympic motto is 'Citius, Altius, Fortius' (Swifter, Higher Stronger). In the spirit of this statement, the top events i am planning to witness are the 100m where there should be some explosive matchups between the Americans and the Jamaicans. As well as this, I'll be tuning in to see if the most powerful man in the world- Hossein Rezazadeh makes history by winning three Olympic Super- Heavyweight Weightlifting titles. In recent years this man has been unchallenged. The Boxing should be great due to the significant British interest as well as the Swimming finals which are always very exciting.
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defintely hunter and purchase, medal contenders and world champions i believe
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USA International - Andy Wheating
Running in the 800m at 6'6 and only 20 years old, this guys going to be a force! Runs a smart race, look for him making moves in the final 50m
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Bradley Saunders, the boxer.
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Surely after Sunday's events the prospect of Nadal v Federer in Beijing must be something to look forward to?
Both are supreme athletes, as proved on Sunday.
Definitely what I'm most looking forward to, besides the 100m.
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Probably stating the obvious, but what about the Bryan brothers for the Men's tennis doubles (in the international section)? They are the top doubles pairing in the world, in the top 5 of career titles in the Open era and have been good servants of the USA in the Davis Cup (oh to have a doubles pairing like the Bryans playing for Britain. We'd only need to find a decent singles player then)
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What about Darren Kenny? In Athens in 3 events he won 3 Gold medals and 1 Silver medal in cycling.
Will be looking out for him.
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Peter Cousins, Judo.
His career speaks for it's self:
Silver - 2007 World Championships
Gold - 2007 British Open
Bronze - 2006 European Championships
Gold - 2005 Bucharest World Cup
Gold - 2003 Barcelona Open
Bronze - 2002 Polish A Tournament
Gold - 2001 British Open
Gold -2000 British Open
Bronze - 2001 Slovenia A Tournament
Gold - 2000 Junior Europeans
Silver - 2000 Junior World Championships
The fact that the sport doesn't get enough coverage on TV is one reason!
Has dedicated his life to the sport, honored to be an Olympiad and genuinely one of the nicest people you could meet!
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Sorry, 2 Gold medals and 1 Silver. 3 medals altogether!!!
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I'll be following Frankie "Funtime" Gavin for three reasons. One, his nickname is "funtime" so he must be an entertaining character to earn such a moniker, although I hope he doesn't follow in the footsteps of other boxing eccentrics like Prince Nazim Hamed and Chris Eubank! Second, Boxing is still an amateur sport at Olympic level and it makes a refreshing change to see tomorrow's stars get their shot at glory rather than seeing overpaid, over pampered, over priviledged stars devaluing the Olympic ideals. Thirdly, I became a fan of Olympic boxing in Athens because it is one of the few sports that isn't dominated by the Americans, Russians, Germans and Chinese so that other countries, like our own, get a chance to win some medals.
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Great idea Pete Scrivener! The GB Cycling team are just that - an amazing team and so should be included together. I think it would be impossible to choose Wiggans or Pendleton or Hoy on their own and leave the others out - pick the whole team as one of your 10.
(Saying that though, I'd pick Hoy if I had to pick just one. How could you miss an Olympic, World and Commonwealth Champion off your list....?)
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If anyone wants to know a bit more about the only swimmer from London in the games try www.dervis.co.uk
Cheers
Tommy
Phillips will be worth a look too, he's in great form at the old Triple Jump!
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Richard Kruse; the foil fencing Kruse Missile is going to have a lot of support. British foil number 1 and having made the last 8 in the final knockout at Athens in 2004, he is going to be an awesome British fencer to watch attack the medals.
Alex O'Connell is British sabre number 1 and former junior world sabre fencing number 1. While fencing in a different discipline to Richard Kruse, Alex has been dishing out some real carnage on the world stage. Definitely one to watch as his maturing senior tactical experience is meeting his world-class talent.
Men's foil and sabre fencing at the Olympics in Beijing with Kruse and O'Connell is going to be excellent!
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After the fantastic Wimbledon final, I am soooooooooooo looking forward to the colours and sights of the Bejing Olympics. Keep the politics out, sure it's disgusting and sad, but this is about PURE SPORT - as that Final was a brilliant example of.
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I agree with your ten to watch from the UK. Lets hope Kelly Sotherton is lucky to gain gold and young Tom Daley may surprise us all, and not have to wait for London 2012 to do well.
Its great to know, that we have again people who may do well in China, and in 4 years time here even better!
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Interesting to see quite a lot of support for Richard Kruse, even though he's only at the Games by virtue of a wildcard. Then again, a wildcard won fencing gold at Athens so it can clearly be done.
i_am_stewart (53), Peter Cousins is a really good suggestion. We do a lot with Euan Burton so I know a fair amount about him, but that list of Cousins' achievements is pretty impressive!
JBNEC11 (48) - your Andy Wheating seems to be almost a complete unknown (less than a thousand results on Google means you're a nobody these days), but the few articles I could find sound very positive, so I'll keep an eye out. If he medals in Beijing you will officially have provided the best One to Watch tip.
invincibleFreddyfox (60), I'm glad it's only taken 60 comments for somebody to agree! As you say, a lot of the athletes being mentioned will still be here in 2012, and many of them will have improved by then. It's quite exciting really.
I don't know what I'm going to do with these cyclists, they clearly do need one big article for the whole team, don't they. But D-man (56), don't encourage Scriv, he's got a lot of countdowns to get on and write...
For the full Scrivener opus:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/topic/countdown/
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As far as International Stars go the main man to watch is Michael Phelps. He's certainly set to light up the pool. I remember Mark Spitz and his performance back in the dim and distant past of 1972. It'll be interesting to see how Michael does. He's truly awesome to watch in the pool.
Staying with swimming, I'll be watching the British team. After the great performances in the World Championships in Manchester, it'll be great to see that form transferred to the Olympic pool. Liam Tancock is certainly one to watch but there are many others too. One name not mentioned is the old man of the team Mark Foster. I'd love to see him finally get an Olympic medal. He certainly deserves one as he showed in Manchester. The guy who beat him had to break the world record. He's a decent bloke too, so come on fossie. At the other end of the age range it'll be interesting to see how well Tom Daley does in the diving.
Away from swimming I'll be watching the British Cycling team. There should be a few medals coming from this sport as they've been performing well recently.
We always seem to do well in the sailing. Ben Ainslee is alwys a top performer and is bound to do well, as is the rest of the team.
We've got a good recent history in rowing and I'll be watching to see if we can get medals in that area too.
Finally in athletics it'll be interesting to see if Paula radcliffe competes, and if she does, will she finally be able to get a medal. I will be watching the athletics but apart from Kathy Sotherton am not currently well up enough in the sport to pick individual characters.
It'll be great to see the British Team build the foundations from which greater things can be achieved in London in four years time.
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Jie Zheng. Riding a post Wimbledon wave and with over a billion people behind her, she won't easily be overlooked.
Oh, and the fireworks at the opening and closing ceremonies. Not an (official) Olympic sport yet but probably on the menu after the feast served up by the home of the firework.
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I am British and my wife is Jamaican, so the olympics will be a fierce contest in our house. I like to see how the British sprinters fair against the USA and Jamaican sprinters. If there are no Brits competing in an event but there are Jamaicans I will cheer for Jamaica. My ones to watch are:
Asafa Powell in 100m
Tyson Gay / Usain Bolt 200m
USA Basketball
British Boxing
The young British Diver
The British BMX girl
The Jamaican 4 x 100m men
USA and Aussie Swimmers
My son will be supporting Britian, unless his mum sasy otherwise
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Bigdanprice,
I mentioned Baddely at 09.12 am this morning.
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I'm in agreement with simonwebb85 above.
Crista Cullen stands out as a world class British athlete in the ladies hockey, where I'm hoping we'll be competitive and sneak a medal. Also comes across well as a fine ambassodor for the sport and team GB.
Hoping the mens hockey team will also challenge for medals, with Ashley Jackson playing a starring role.
Bit gutted we don't have the middle distance track stars of the 80's, used to love watching those Olympic battles.
Hoping Brazil in the football and USA in the basketball will both be entertaining.
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andy and jamie murray are doing the tennis doubles i think. surely they must be a medal hopeful
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As others have said I'd definitely be interested in Richard Kruse - he's just getting into the very peak of his fencing career, and is wonderful to watch (see youtube). Alex O'Connell is going to be interesting as a dark horse - obviously he's very young for a fencer, but he's proven he can go at it with the best by qualifying.
39. bazepeemaster - Jon Willis isn't going to Beijing. He'll be one to watch at London though, having just put in a solid 12th at the European Champs (as well as his other results like winning Heidenheim last year, 12th at Stockholm etc).
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Marliyn Okoro- late start to her 800 season, already consistantly under 2 mins and currently sits 10th in the world rankings, ahead of Janeth Jepkosgei the reigning world champ. Also keep an eye out for Jo Pavey, but forget Paula Radcliffe, she has as much chance of winning the womens marathon as i do
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what about clark and kellog in the badminton?
they hav done very well recently beatin a top chinese pair in a recent tournament
and they might be better than robertson and emms on their day?!
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How can you posssibly leave out one of the greatest athletes of all time, Kenenisa Bekele?
Astounding omission!
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Dara Torres winning the 50m freestyle as a 41 year old mum would be one of the biggest stories of the Games. She won this event and the 100m free at the U.S. Olympic trials (has just stated she's withdrawing from the individual 100m, although she'll go in the relay at this distance).
caesarsathlete(64): Unfortunately Tyson Gay won't race the 200m in Beijing as he didn't qualify due to injury.
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Best bet for a medal Rebecca Addlington, in 800meters freeestyle swimming. An amazing girl. How do i put a bet on her?
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We have Richard Faulds who is in excellent form in the Double Trap Clay Shooting event. He has been in the final at all four world cups this year, winning Gold, Silver and Bronze. He finished 4th in the other world cup.
Steve Scott is the current European Champion (as of Monday 7th July) in the same event. I don't think you will find a stronger pair competing for Great Britain in these Olympics.
They both stand an excellent chance of medals.
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Peter Scrivener's idea of the whole GB Track Cycling Team is a good one, but surely thats just avoiding the whole point of picking 10?
And if only one is to br picked then like I posted earlier, it simply has to be Bradley Wiggins. He is a man who will most likely participate in 5 different events and there are valid points on offer that he could medal in 4 of them. The Road Race is the only one which he has no chance in, but also on the road is the Time Trial. While I think his aim will be more aimed at Top 10, on a great day he is certainly capable of medalling. Then theres his real specialty, the track. He took a Gold, Silver and Bronze in Athens in events which he took Gold, Gold, and Gold at in the Track World Championships. Theres the Individual Pursuit where noone has yet come close to beating him for a couple of years now, he is on course for repeating his Olympic victory there. The Team Pursuit team are also the best in the world - with Wiggins it's key element. Both Pursuit events have been won at the Track World Championships for the past 2 seasons. This brings us onto the Madison, where he will be paired up with Mark Cavendish. It is a great pairing to mix the best pursuit rider on the track with arguably the best sprint rider on the road. The Madison is also the most exciting event to watch in all of Track Cycling.
Although I would like to see a couple cyclists as a big cycling fan, I have to face the facts that despite our huge success, it is still a 'minority' sport and there are so many others from other sports deserving of a place. So here is why, in my opinion, Wiggins deserves it more than other British cyclists.
Mark Cavendish - Cavendish's best medal hope is the Madison, where he partners with Wiggins. The road race course does not suit him.
Vicky Pendleton - A huge role model and extremely talented yes. But through no fault of her own (But the International Olympic Committee) there are only 3 womens Track events and she will only compete in one of them. She is the favourite in that event but it is a very tight event and there is a chinese woman who will be tough to beat, particularly in Beijing.
Rebecca Romero - In terms of a stroy, she is hard to beat. Olympic silver medallist in Rowing and she is on target to become a medallist in track cyling too. But like Pendleton, she only enters the 1 event.
Chris Hoy - Such an incredible sportsman and like Wiggins, has a great chance of 3 Gold Medals. He is the undisputable King of the Keirin, and winning the Gold in the Sprint in his first year of that event is outstanding. It is hard to find fault in him but I just think that Wiggins has an edge over him.
Shanaze Reade - If youre going to include a male cyclist and a female cyclist, I would give Reade the edge over Pendleton. I have seen videos of her at the BMX world championships where she puts in some dominant victories. Reade is the big favourite to be the first ever Womens BMX Olympic Champion.
Nicole Cooke - A great rider yes, but its hard to judge her on the basis of this year as she is peaking at the Olympics alone so has not perhaps had as many top results as last year. Yes, she won the National championships, but with her team containing most of the best British female road cyclists, is it any surprise? However, she is forever overlooked and undervalued - but theres just too many good cyclists and Im not sure if when it comes down to it, she will be able to beat the incredible Marianne Vos.
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I'll be watching Gro Hammerseng for sure!!!
Incredible athlete, who has the best leadership skills I've ever seen. She's so talented, fast, strong, and with an insane fighting will. She is just an amazing woman!
Works for Amnesty International, and has also worked with PLAN, she is one of the few 'out and proud' athletes, has been nominated for 'world handball player' several times, has led Norway to become European Champion twice, and well, she's gorgeous!
Norway are guaranteed to make it to the final with Gro as captain, and hopefully they'll kick Russian butt, and bring home the gold medal!
[url]http://evas-handballside.com/gro/index2.html[/url]
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He goes by the name Martyn Rooney.
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Gro Hammerseng should most definitely make the International List - not only is she the best all round women handball player in the world, but she is a true inspiration to her team, a leader, an ambassador and a perfect example of Olympic values.
I know that Handball isnt a well known sport in the UK but it is a fast, physical and all action sport and highly entertaining to watch. Us Brits are missing out if we don't pay more attention to it, and highly talented athletes like Gro. I'm right behind Norway in the quest for Olympic handball glory and would love to see Gro with a gold medal.
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Who else if not Gro Hammerseng should make the list?? She is one the best - if the not THE best female handball player the world has ever seen. With an extraordinary will to fight for her team and her sport she does an outstanding and incredible job for the handball itself, for her team and for her country Norway.
She lives on the Olympic values all year long and will do especially during the Olympics in Bejing.
Good luck to Norway and Gro Hammerseng, but just as well to every other athlete participating in the Olympics.
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We never get to watch the fencing! I'd love to watch Richard Kruse and Alex O'Connell.
Richard is a very talented athlete and probably at his the peak now, while Alex is young and driven and if he doesn't win a medal this time round, should surely do it in 2012. Let's get behind him now.
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Given that the BBC is impartial (as per its editoral code) might I make the following suggestion:
Every day focus on a randomly chosen athlete that comes from one of three groups of countries: Olympians (countries who are also certain to get a medal), Wannabes (countries who might just get a medal) and the Tryers (countries where no medal is expected).
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Gro Hammerseng is an amazing handball player. As a captain, she shows great drive on the court and is always encouraging. When they knock her down she gets right back up and keeps on going (even with a broken nose!). She should definitely be on the list.
Good Luck Norway!
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Gro Hammerseng is the best handball player in decade, Gro isn't only great in handball but she's also interested in Human Right.
Every time I see Gro play, I can see her determined and her supportive to her team mates.
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I'm looking forward to seeing Richard Kruse in the Men's Foil and Alex O'Connell in the Men's Sabre.
Anything can happen on the day and both are capable of big things.
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Don't forget Craig Fallon in the judo.
A former world champion whom has been out through injury for over a year.
He could be peaking now and could be worth a medal!
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Using the criteria you say you have, how could you possibly not have CHRIS HOY top of the list? His past record of 'performing on the day' is phenomenal, his sport definitely high profile at such major international championships, and his chances are also high.
CHRIS HOY FOR ME!
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Back again about Wiggins - he won't be riding on the Road at all now.
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This is another endorsement for Richard Faulds to repeat Double Trap glory. The man is on fire this year, wonderful stuff.
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I think that some posh people might do well in sailing, fencing and rowing.
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You've missed out some of the swimmers:
Rebecca Addlington, fastest women in the world this year at 800 free.
Hannah Miley, had some ding dong battles against Kirsty Coventry at the shortcourse champs, both went under the world record.
David Davies, don't bet against him in either the 10km or 1500. Equally in the 10km don't think Cassie Patten will give it up without a fight.
Lizzie Simmonds should final given that she also broke the world short course record when Coventry took it on the 200 back.
Mark Foster is always interesting to watch as you never know quite what he has in the bag!
Internationally, Margaret Hoeltzer just broke the 200 back record and Natalie Coughlin is the first women under 59s at 100 back. The Australian girls: Libby Trickett (nee Lenton), Cate Campbell (beat Trickett in the 50 free and is quick) and Jessica Schipper (butterfly legend). The legendary Kirsty Coventry......
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Dwain Chambers, he is one to look out for at the games.
I have it on good authority that his legal challenge is set to succeed and he will then win his place via the trials.
Should be good TV if nothing else.
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Thanks for the comments - I suspect the hand of the Gro Hammerseng fan club in that late rally for the Norwegian handball star, but good to see such strong support for the shooting and fencing members of Team GB.
If you've not had your say yet then get your suggestions in, I'll be working my way back through the comments soon and using them all to help make our final list.
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Richard Kruze Fencing Foil. 8th in Athens must have a chance. Coming back from injury.
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CYCLING
Nicole Cooke is the first British cyclist to top the world road race rankings.
Nicole will lead the squad, which features 10 women riders.
Rebecca Romero has now been a world champion in two sports.
Shanaze Reade struck gold at the BMX World Championships
GYMNASTICS
Beth Tweddle won world championship gold on the uneven bars last year.
BADMINGTON
British badminton star Gail Emms won an Olympic silver medal with mixed doubles partner Nathan Robertson at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg won the European Championships mixed doubles title .
ARCHERY
Alison Williamson, Charlotte Burgess and Naomi Folkard.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Denise Johns and playing partner Lucy Boulton.
MODERN PENTATHLON
Katy Livingston and Heather Fell .
ATHLETICS
Goldie Sayers is Britain's top javelin thrower.
World 400m silver medallist Nicola Sanders .
Jenny Meadows , 800m.
The women's 200m, world 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu.
ROWING
Frances Houghton has won gold in the women?s quadruple scull in each of the last three World Rowing Championships.
CANOEING
Anna Hemmings, Britain?s leading female marathon canoeist, current World Champion, Anna has won a total of 11 World and European Championship medals, 9 of them being gold!
TRIATHLON
Helen Tucker warmed up for the Beijing Olympics in style as she won the Triathlon World Championships in Vancouver.
SAILING
The Yngling Girls, Sarah Ayton , Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson.
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Ollie, have you ever seen any Handball and Gro Hammerseng play? I can happily send you some links an then you'll be a fully paid up member of the appreciation society!!! She never gives up, gives all for her team and is an inspirational leader and captain, as well as a great role model. If that's not an Olympian, I don't know what is....
As far as Brits go, I would have to back up your editor on his choice of Katherine Grainger for the rowers. This year the Women's Quad seem to represent our best chance of gold, the first ever by GB women as you say, and Katherine is a fine ambassador for that crew and her committment and longevity speak volumes about her.
Cycling - well for me its a toss up between Hoy and Romero - and I'm inclined to go for Rebecca here. How can you overlook someone who has a great chance of medals in 2 consecutive games in different (highly technical) sports?
I'm also inclined to give my vote to other multi-eventers like Kelly Sotherton (although question marks about her big day temprament maybe, and the lack of competition?), Katy Livingstone in the Modern Pentathlon and Tim Don in the Triathlon. For swimming I'd go for Liam Tancock, as a world record holder he deserves due respect, despite claims from the girls (Addlington, Miley) and Sailing its close but Ben Ainslie deserves the nod as its his chance to win his 3rd gold.
Good luck with the selection - its a hard task! You deserve some handball videos as a special treat for all your hard work!
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Cleo108 - my experience of handball is limited, I will grant you that.
I've watched a fair bit on TV, but my only real experience is being given a demonstration by a lovely Czech lady in Reading last year. She told me she was trying to set up a handball club in Berkshire. I asked how many people she'd got in the team so far. She said, "Me".
So maybe I do need a better introduction to the sport. This is slightly off-topic (keep the 10 to watch suggestions coming) but does anybody know a good handball club in London? I think I'd make a decent goalie.
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I would like to point out that Baddeley beat a raft of Kenyans in his Dream Mile triumph...
I didnt mean to get to het up, but the guy is great. He is tactically excellent as well as an excellent runner.
Vote Baddeley!
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James DeGale in the boxing is a serious shout. Our boxing squad is looking better than ever with serious ability across the weights.
Andrew Baddeley is also good for an outside bet on the track. Well worth watching.
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Re 10. What are the other factors?
If GB is looking for 41 medals in 17 sports then these should be the ones to watch.
Since Ollie has been assigned to canoeing - slalom and sprint - then hopefully he will focus on the likely medalists i.e Campbell Walsh and Tim Brabants - both World medalists.
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Hi Ollie, I'm curious - if your knowledge about handball is limited, how come Gro Hammerseng is on your list?
Anyway, for whatever reason, I am pleased she is "nominated", because she is most definitely worth taking a closer look at, and not only because of her looks, altough she is easy on the eye.
The list of qualities that justifies her spot among the top 10 is long, but bottom line is she is a true Olympian, a great ambassador of her sport, a leader and role model both on and off the court. Some merits leading up to the Games: Two times European Champion for Norway in consecutive championships and Most Valuable Player both times, the second time coming back from a knee surgery, Silver medalist in World Cup 2007, member of All Star Team, Most Valuable Player for her club team and nominated The World's Best Handball Player of 2007/2008 and last but absolutely not least - she is honoured with her own Olympic stamp representing the Norwegian Olympic squad for Beijing 2008.
I would like to nominate another athlete for the International list: Jelena Isinbajeva!
New world record in pole jumping last night - completely awesome to watch!
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