The 10 Olympic athletes you need to watch this summer

Kevin Durant, men's basketball

It isn't likely that all eyes will be focused on Durant -- not at first. The U.S. men's basketball team has taken the gold at four of the last five Olympics, so another win seems certain -- especially with megastars like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant on board for their last Olympic games. But Durant, a rising star on the Oklahoma City Thunder, will be making his debut at the games (he was the last player cut from the team in 2008) and we expect the 3-time NBA scoring champion to emerge as a superstar.
 

Kayla Harrison, women's judo

She comes to the Olympics having overcome a hellish journey through sexual abuse -- Harrison was molested by her former judo coach Daniel Doyle for four years beginning at age 12 (Doyle was sentenced to 10 years in prison and was banned from USA Judo, the sport's governing body, for life). But Harrison has emerged determined to win, becoming the first female world champion in the sport in 26 years. She'll have a tough run against her biggest competition, current world champion Audrey Tcheuméo of France, but she's determined -- Harrison says that after becoming an Olympic champion, she wants to retire from the sport.
 

Ryan Lochte, men's swimming, 5 events

Michael Phelps has gotten all the attention (and most of the gold medals), but don't overlook his teammate and rival. He's won three gold, two silver and one bronze medal already, and he holds the world record in the 200 meter freestyle relay (long course) and individually holds the world record in the 200 meter medley (long and short course) and the 400 meter medley (short course). You can bet having Lochte breathing down his neck inspired Phelps to try just a little harder -- and who knows? This time it might be Lochte's turn for a gold medal sweep. He'll be competing in five events: the 200 backstroke, the 200m individual medley, the 400m freestyle, the 400m individual medley and the 4x200m freestyle relay.
 

Oscar Pistorius, men's running

He's not expected to win or even place. He's not an American underdog (he's competing for his homeland, South Africa). But he is doing something that's never been done at the Olympics before -- running on prosthetic feet. He's even qualified for two events -- the 4x400m relay and the 400m. While there's still strenuous debate whether or not Pistorius has an unfair advantage with his space age gear, I'd prefer to think he's the ultimate underdog story -- the fact that he's competing in the Olympics against the best of the best speaks to uncommon determination against the odds.
 

Rau'shee Warren, men's boxing

Warren will be making an unprecedented return to box at the Olympics for a third time -- thanks to a promise he made to his mom. The youngest of four brothers (two of whom have been in prison since Warren was a teenager), he grew up in the roughest housing project in Cincinnati. That he got out is impressive on its own. But Warren went a step further, swearing to Mom that he wouldn't turn pro after Beijing (a move that would have been expected) so that he could bring her a gold medal. Let's hope he makes Ma proud. 

 

Kerron Clement, men's track and field

Clement may become a household name not for his abilities, but for his tweeting. After a lengthy flight, he and his teammates found themselves stuck on a bus. When he tweeted, “Um, so we’ve been lost on the road for 4hrs. Not a good first impression London," the message went viral. Clement, who'll be competing in the 400m hurdles, has made an effort to send happier tweets since, but he doesn't really have regrets about his comment -- his hope is that it inspired some improvements in the London transit system.
 

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, women's volleyball

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, women's volleyball
Sure, they've already basked in Olympics wins, taking home back-to-back gold medals in Beijing. But don't rule out a third win. It won't be easy, though -- May Treanor ruptured her Achilles tendon while Walsh Jennings had a kid. They'll be coming into the London Olympics having lost the number one seed to Brazil, but that (marginally) underdog status may propel them to fight for the gold again. Still, keep your eyes peeled for Jen Kessy and April Ross. Also on the American team, they might just be able to challenge May-Treanor and Walsh Jenning's dominance.

 

Tony Azevedo, men's water polo

While it's easy to single out Brazilian-born captain Azevedo (this will be his fourth visit to the Olympics), the real star here is the whole U.S. water polo team. The team hasn't gotten a lot of press, largely because the U.S. hasn't won a gold medal in this event since 1904. Hungary has had a lock on water polo, winning the gold for three (yes, three) Olympics in a row. But this may be the U.S.'s chance to break its losing streak. The men's team has actually beaten Hungary in several competitions leading up to London, and 10 players from the team that took home the silver at the 2008 Olympics are returning with one goal -- winning the gold. 

 

Jordan Burroughs, men's wrestling

Wrestling hasn't given us a lot of athletes with the charisma to end up on a box of Wheaties. But Burroughs just might put the sport in the spotlight. Updating fans on Twitter (his handle is @alliseeigold) about his path to London, he's connected to fans, has endorsement deals, and has plans to go into MMA fighting once he retires from wrestling. Plus, he's a lock to medal -- he hasn't lost a match in three years. Easy to like and a cinch to root for, Burroughs is sure to boost interest in a mostly overlooked Olympic sport.
 

Gabby Douglas, women's gymnastics

Nicknamed "The Flying Squirrel," this 16-year-old has already seen plenty of highs and lows in her brief career. At the 2012 Visa Championships, Douglas dominated the competition by taking first on bars and third in the floor event. That came after a slip off the balance beam, a mistake which cost her a full point in the rankings. That Douglas was able to shake off her momentary lapse and dominate the competition going forward -- coming in just two-tenths of a point behind winner Jordyn Wieber -- shows she has what it takes to own this Olympics. Wieber will take the spotlight, but keep an eye on the Squirrel.