Britain's Chris Hoy, left, and Jason Kenny race in the men's sprint semifinal April 7, 2012, at the Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. Winner of three gold medals in Beijing, Hoy is one of the host nation's top hopes for glory on home turf in the spectacular new velodrome.
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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) dunks in the first half of Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference final against the Dallas Mavericks on May 23, 2011, in Oklahoma City. Durant led the U.S. to gold at the 2010 world championships, but the Olympic title is what really matters.
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Jamaica's Usain Bolt celebrates after winning the men's 4x100 relay final, and setting a world record, Sept. 4, 2011 at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea. Any talk of the Olympics has to include the flashy Jamaican sprinter. His performance in Beijing four years ago was magical.
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Steven Lopez, right, delivers a blow to TJ Curry during their men's 80-kilogram division Olympic Team Trials taekwondo match March 10, 2012, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. With five world championships, two Olympic gold medals and a bronze to his name, Lopez is the face of taekwondo in the U.S.
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Hiroshi Hoketsu, of Japan, rides Whisper 115 during the Dressage event Sept. 28, 2010, at the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Ky. At the age of 71, the Japanese equestrian rider will be the oldest competitor in London.
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Michael Phelps swims the breaststroke leg in the men's 200-meter individual medley at the Indianapolis Grand Prix swimming meet March 31, 2012, in Indianapolis. After winning a record eight gold medals in Beijing, the 26-year-old American is back for his final big splash before retirement.
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South Africa's Oscar Pistorius lines up on the starting blocks ahead of aheat of the men's 400m at the World Athletics Championships Aug. 28, 2011, in Daegu, South Korea. The "Blade Runner" has already gone under the 400-meter Olympic qualifying time of 45.30 seconds and needs to do it once more at an international meet to be eligible for Olympic selection.
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U.S. team members Misty May-Treanor, left, and Kerri Walsh celebrate after winning the women's beach volleyball World Championships semifinal match against China on June 18, 2011, in Rome. No one will be more in the spotlight than Walsh and May-Treanor, who won gold medals in Athens and Beijing and are favorites for a third title in London.
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Lin Dan of China returns a shot to Simon Santoso of Indonesia during the Li-Ning Singapore Open Badminton tournament men's singles quarterfinal round June 17, 2011, in Singapore. Widely considered the greatest badminton player of all time, China's "Super Dan" is a four-time world champion, five-time All England winner and the reigning Olympic gold medalist.
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Brazil's Santos forward Neymar, top, fights for the ball during a Copa Libertadores soccer match against Brazil's Internacional April 4, 2012, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The Olympic title is the only significant soccer competition Brazil has yet to win.
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