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6 Headline-Making Olympic Athletes to Watch Out for This Summer (PHOTOS)

by Jill Baughman on July 14, 2012 at 9:30 AM

Michael Phelps

The London Summer Olympics 2012 will be here before we know it. They're by far one of my favorite sporting events to watch. From track & field to gymnastics to swimming, every four years we get to tune in and witness the best athletes in the world compete against each other.

A lot of athletes are coming in as heavy favorites ... or are simply making the headlines for a bunch of other reasons (like, er, being a virgin?). So we've put together a quick, six-athlete list of the Olympians to look out for in the 2012 games. They've either made the news or are going to be the most exciting to watch -- or both!

From go-tos like Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt to up-and-comers like cutie Gabrielle Douglas, this is going to be an Olympics to remember. Of course we neglected to mention a bunch of other amazing athletes who will make an appearance -- from Oscar Pistorius, the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics, to Serena Williams, who just won Wimbledon, to Kerry Walsh-Jennings and Misty May-Treanor, who are just badass -- but this list will hopefully get you pumped up enough for the events to come!

Which event is your favorite to watch during the Olympics?

 

Image via Eric Draper/Wikimedia

Roger Federer

Now that Roger Federer has won Wimbledon, will he be recovered enough to succeed in the Olympics? If he wins a gold medal in the men's singles tournament, which he hasn't done before, the seven-time Wimbledon champ will complete his quest in becoming the greatest tennis player in history.

Image via Doha Stadium Plus/Flickr

Filed Under: athletes, olympics, slideshow

Comments

8
  • jalaz77
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    jalaz77

    July 14, 2012 at 10:10 AM
    Stopped reading when I saw the slide show : ( these slide shoes are like taking a step back in computer time. Don't mean to whine but I did anyways.
  • EmmaF...
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    EmmaFromEire

    July 14, 2012 at 11:11 AM
    Gabby Douglas is NOT the favourite, Jordyn Weiber is. Shels the current US and world champ, olympic trials are irrelevant to a gymnast's ranking.
  • PonyC...
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    PonyChaser

    July 14, 2012 at 11:15 AM

    I, too, would have loved to know who your picks are, but since the slideshows don't work for me, once again, I have to close the page. Way to get hits, though!


  • Flori...
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    Floridamom96

    July 14, 2012 at 11:33 AM

    I depsise the slideshow crap and will not read further.


  • Mrswbray
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    Mrswbray

    July 14, 2012 at 11:49 AM
    The whining about the slide shows is getting old. Get over it!! Also, Emma, the article didn't say that Gabrielle is THE favorite to win, it said she is A favorite to win and she is. If her and Jordyn both perform their best, the competition is gonna be close between them. The Olympic Trials may not matter in terms of rankings but finishing ahead of Jordyn Weiber definitely sent a message to the gymnastics community.
  • EmmaF...
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    EmmaFromEire

    July 14, 2012 at 11:55 AM
    True, it sent a message, but given poor gabby's record of not hitting under pressure, i think it's definitely in weiber's favour! I'm also a bit torn, i like gabby douglas, but prefer aly raisman, because i've been rooting for her for so long, i want her and weiber in the AA!!
  • suziejax
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    suziejax

    July 14, 2012 at 10:43 PM

    dont like slideshow

    I dont really get into the summer games... sometimes I do depends on whats on


  • Jae
    -- Nonmember comment from

    Jae

    July 16, 2012 at 10:23 AM
    How about Amanda Bingson? Fresh out of UNLV, and a totally unexpected qualifier for the Olympics at the Trials (placed second)! http://www.usatf.org/Athlete-Bios/Amanda-Bingson.aspx
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