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Dara Torres is an American swimmer who unbelievably, has been swimming competitively at the Olympic level since 1984. Even without competing in the 1996 or 2004 Olympics, she is still going to be the first Olympic swimmer to compete in five Olympic Games. Also, it should be mentioned that she’s 41 years old, and still competing at an elite level. If she swims in Beijing this summer, she will also be the oldest swimmer to ever compete at the Beijing Olympics.

Torres has become notable as a television personality outside of the pool, and was also the first non-model to appear in the Sports Illustrated annual swimsuit issue. In case you hadn’t heard, she’s also had a pretty good career as a swimmer.

To this point in Torres’ career, she has won nine Olympic medals (four gold medals among them), and in the Sydney Olympics in 2000, she won five medals as the oldest member of the U.S. team, at 33 years old. She had originally planned to retire and had no intentions of competing in further Olympics, even devoting her time to having a family in the following years. By all accounts, the Olympic career of Dara Torres had come to a distinguished end.

However, things took a surprising turn. In August of 2007, when Torres was 40 years old and had given birth just over a year before, Torres was able to win the gold medal at the U.S. Nationals for the 100 meter freestyle event. She would also go on to break her own American record in the 50 meter freestyle.

Torres was as surprised as anyone. She had joined a local club team after giving birth, just to get back in shape and have a fun outlet for friendly competition. However, as Torres is one of the more competitive athletes of her entire sport, one thing led to another, and she began competing at a higher and higher level. She raced in master’s events, but posted times that would be competitive at a professional level, surprising everyone, including herself. Since discovering that she still has the talent, she has decided to resume full-time training for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Dara Torres’ training is made a bit more complicated by the fact that she can’t get as much pool work in as her younger counterparts, so she is forced to train smarter instead of harder. She works with a team of experts to ensure that there is no wasted time in her workout regimen, and she relies on weight training more than ever to increase her strength and explosiveness.

Torres’ philosophy of training smarter rather than harder has led to her posting faster times than she did years ago, even though she spends about half as much time in the pool as she used to. She is stronger than in her younger days, although she weighs less, and is more efficient and better balanced in the water. She has also improved her time out of the blocks to start the race, which is vital at shorter distances, where fractions of a second can separate a gold medal from a bronze medal.

Dara Torres is likely to be one of the biggest stories of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Just by qualifying and competing, Torres would be making history. However, as you may guess, Torres is not merely content to just “show up”.

If you follow the NBA (National Basketball Association), you’re already familiar with the outstanding play of the 2007-08 NBA Most Valuable Player, Kobe Bryant. If you aren’t immediately knowledgeable of his abilities, you’re not going to want to miss him in action during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Kobe Bryant is one of the most skilled and most exciting athletes in the world, and perhaps the world’s greatest basketball player. Bryant began his professional career at age 18, deciding to skip college to go directly to professional basketball at its highest level- the NBA. Within a short amount of time, it became clear that his team, the Los Angeles Lakers, had something special on their hands.

During his career, he quickly won three world championships, leading the Lakers along with fellow NBA All-Star Shaquille O’Neal. After years of playing together, a number of circumstances, including a supposed feud that both players downplayed, led to O’Neal’s departure, but Bryant continued to have individual, if not team, success. Since then, Bryant has won the NBA scoring title, and been honored for his defensive play as well.

The United States basketball team is in dire need of a leader like Kobe Bryant, and they are lucky to have him as they attempt to reclaim their place at the top of the international basketball community. Bryant plays with a fire that the United States team has lacked in recent years. In 2004’s Sydney Olympic Games, the United States lost three games while settling for the bronze medal. To put the disappointment into perspective, the three losses in 2004 are more than the United States had previously experienced in their complete Olympic history. In 2006, the U.S. team’s performance wasn’t much better at the World Championships, which resulted in another third place finish.

Kobe Bryant appears to be motivated to change his country’s fortunes in Beijing this summer. Even though he’s been playing with a torn ligament in his right pinky finger (on his shooting hand, nonetheless), he has publicly stated that he would not undergo surgery until after the Olympic Games in Beijing were completed. This kind of statement speaks volumes about the dedication Bryant is showing towards his nation’s team, and the determination he has to return the U.S. to the top of the podium in Beijing.

Not only is Bryant one of the most talented performers in the world, but he’s also one of the most exciting. Bryant is capable of mid-air acrobatics, last second heroics, and incredible shots that defy physics, even when he is being guarded closely by multiple defenders. At times, it seems that there is no force that can stop Bryant from doing what he wants to do on the basketball court.

Bryant is also becoming increasingly fun to watch because he has learned to involve his teammates more than he previously did earlier in his career. This will lead to more opportunities for them as well as himself, since opponents can’t simply double team him like they would early in his playing days. His evolution into more of a team player will also help the United States change their identity as a team. After the “dream team” experiment continued to disappoint, the team has changed to a more balanced team filled with role players as well as stars. Bryant’s new philosophy will fit perfectly with the style of basketball that the United States needs to play to win.

Whether you’re a fan of United States basketball or not, you’ll want to watch whenever they play, if only because of the superlative talent and ability of Kobe Bryant. Not since the great Michael Jordan have we been blessed with the opportunity to watch such an excellent player in his prime, and with Bryant more motivated than ever to bring the United States another gold medal, he’s sure to be at his best this summer in Beijing.

Whether you’re just a fan of the Olympic Games in general, a woman who has competed in sports herself, or a young girl who looks up to the athletes who perform on the grand stage of the Olympics, it’s easy to admire the skills and determination shown by women athletes in the Olympic Games. The Beijing Olympics will put many talented female athletes at center stage, and many of these athletes will, in turn, inspire another generation of women to aspire to one day compete in the Olympic Games. Here are just a few of the female athletes you’ll want to keep an eye on during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Natalie Coughlin, a United States swimmer, is a favorite to win several medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. She already has experienced Olympic success, as she won 5 medals (2 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze) at the 2004 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She has only continued her success since then, and her skill in the 100 yard backstroke is not even approached by other competitors. Look for her to make a big splash- no pun intended- at the Beijing Olympics.

As long as we’re talking about swimming, we have to mention the inspirational and improbable story of Dara Torres, who has already competed in four Olympic Games (the first in 1984) and is 41 years old. Despite her age, she is swimming better than ever, and is actually swimming faster than she did when she was winning Olympic medals years ago. Torres is very likely to qualify for the Olympic Games, and will be one of the biggest stories of the Beijing Olympics due to her chance to set records for the most Olympic appearances by a swimmer and for being the oldest swimmer to appear in the Olympic Games.

Yelena Isinbayeva is a Russian pole vaulter who has already been the winner of eight major championships in her event of choice. She has set the world records for both indoor jumps (4.95 meters) and outdoor jumps (5.01 meters). Originally a gymnast, Isinbayeva left the sport when she became too tall to be very successful in it. However, her athleticism has allowed her to win a gold medal already in the pole vault, at the 2004 Sydney Olympics. It would be a tremendous shock if she doesn’t repeat that feat in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics.

Nastia Liukin is a Russian-born gymnast who will star for the United States gymnastic team during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. As a winner of four national all-around championships, she has proven herself to be a versatile competitor, although she excels most on the balance beam and uneven bars. Liukin nearly won the all-around competition at the World Championships in 2005, and has nine Word Championship medals to her credit so far. She’s known for having outstanding technique, and you won’t want to miss her performances in Beijing.

Marta, a Brazilian soccer player who is known by many as a female version of the great Pele, will compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and you won’t want to miss her when she does. Her team qualified by beating Ghana 5-1 to take the final spot in the Beijing Olympics, with Marta leading the way while playing a fantastic game. Widely considered the best women’s player in the world, she was awarded as the outstanding player and leading scorer of the 2007 Women’s World Cup, and her team finished second in the prestigious tournament. When she plays, don’t blink!

As mentioned before, these are just a few of many outstanding athletes that will be competing at the Beijing Olympics this summer. You’ll want to make sure to follow their performances and root them on, and you won’t be sorry if you do. These women are the epitome of what athletics are all about, and they are going to Beijing for one reason: to win.

Each edition of the Olympic Games showcases some of the finest athletes in the world doing what they do best while representing their home countries. This year’s Games in Beijing, China, will be no different. There are so many great athletes, both male and female, that it can be hard to know who to look out for. Here’s a few of the athletes on the male side that you’ll want to keep an eye on during the Beijing Olympic Games.

Yao Ming is a Chinese basketball player who has blossomed to one of the best players in the entire world, and most likely the best player at his position anywhere. Yao has succeeded in the NBA, becoming the first Chinese player to do so, and has experienced international success in the past, being named to All-Tournament teams at the Olympics and World Championships. Yao’s ultimate goal is to bring a gold medal to China, and the fact that this year’s Olympics are in his own home country only intensifies this desire. At over seven feet fall, Yao possesses uncommon agility, shooting ability, and passing, and will be playing his best basketball when the Olympic Games begin in Beijing. Don’t miss a moment of Yao and company on the court!

While we’re talking basketball, we have to discuss United States basketball superstar Kobe Bryant. Bryant is arguably the most exciting player in the world, and is in the prime of his career. This year, he won the NBA MVP Award for the first time in his career, while taking his team, the Los Angeles Lakers, to new heights. Able to soar in the air for acrobatic baskets as well as playing great defense and getting teammates involved, Bryant is the ultimate basketball weapon and is devoted to getting the United States back to the top of the international basketball world. Bryant has proven his dedication by refusing to get surgery on his injured finger until after the Olympic Games. Bryant is not only one of the most exciting athletes in the Olympic basketball tournament, but in the entire Olympic Games.

You would be hard pressed to find a more inspirational athlete than South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius. Pistorius was born lacking fibulas in both of his legs, and as a result has been a double-amputee basically all of his life. However, Pistorius never let his setbacks define him, as he’s competed in many sports throughout his life, most at a very high level. During rehabilitation from a rugby injury years ago, Pistorius fell in love with running, and with carbon fiber blades that allow him to run like an able-bodied athletes, he’s shattered Paralympic sprinting records, and even competed favorably against able-bodied athletes. If Pistorius can either beat the qualifying time he needs for the 400 meters or be invited to be on the South African relay team, he’ll be possibly the biggest story of the entire Beijing Olympics.

This may seem like a cop-out, but it’s impossible to really single out any of them, so make sure to watch the entire Brazilian soccer team. Team Brazil came in second place in the 2006 World Cup, then finished first in the 2007 Copa America, and seem primed for success in Beijing. An extremely fun team to watch, their team includes some of the most exciting players in the world, such as Ronaldinho and Robinho.

Again, there are many more athletes that you’ll want to watch this summer during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but this list is a good start. Every athlete that reaches the Olympic level is worth watching and will amaze you with their athletic ability, but some athletes always rise above the top with their skill, natural ability, hard work, dedication and perseverance. If you get a chance to watch these talented and inspirational performers, make sure you take advantage of it!

Yao Ming is a Chinese basketball player that has taken the basketball world by storm. At well over seven feet tall, Yao possesses outside shooting and passing skills that many much smaller players envy, while also giving a strong presence on the inside to any team he plays on. With this year’s Olympic Games taking place in Beijing, China, all eyes will be on Yao Ming as he attempts to lead the Chinese basketball team to the gold medal in front of his home country. Yao Ming has said time and time again that he would love to bring the gold medal to his country, and this year’s Olympics may be his best chance yet to do so.

Yao Ming was selected to the All-Olympian team in 2004 after putting up some impressive numbers in the Sydney Olympic Games. He averaged 20.7 points per game and 9.3 rebounds and made 55.9% of his shots as well. Yao would repeat his great performance with similar production in the 2006 Word Championships.

Yao Ming played the first years of his professional career with the Shanghai Sharks, in China. He was outstandingly successful there, before becoming a coveted commodity to the NBA’s teams. The Houston Rockets were able to obtain him a few years ago, and he has blossomed to become possibly the NBA’s best true center. With other centers, such as Shaquille O’Neal, aging, Yao patrols the paint almost unchecked by other big men.

In China, Yao is nothing short of a superstar, as one of China’s most popular and recognizable athletes. In China, the NBA is very popular, and since Yao has succeeded quite well in the NBA (despite injury issues), his move stateside to play for the Houston Rockets has only boosted his popularity in his home country.

Yao is also one of the more patriotic basketball players you will find. He cites carrying his country’s flag in the 2004 Olympic Games as one of the greatest times in his life, and has also said that if an injury that he suffered in the 2007-08 NBA season kept him from competing in the Beijing Olympics, it would be the biggest disappointment he’s endured.

The reason Yao said that is that he suffered a stress fracture to his foot in February that ended his season with the NBA’s Houston Rockets. He later underwent surgery and started an aggressive rehabilitation aimed at getting him ready to play at the Beijing Olympics. Yao currently maintains that he will play in the Beijing Olympics, and he will obviously do whatever it takes to make his goal to do so a reality.

The stage has been set for one of China’s biggest heroes to help lead his team to the gold medal in his very own country. If Yao is able to do so, it will bring an almost unimaginable joy to China’s avid basketball fans, who have dreamed of such a day since Yao starred for the Shanghai Sharks years ago. With the United States basketball team coming off of several disappointing years, and the Argentinian and Spanish teams showing flaws of their own, it’s possible that the Chinese team could escape with the gold.

For Yao Ming, that would be a dream come true.

The Olympic Games are not only a platform for competition and entertainment, but they can also serve to inspire people, even those of us who will never be Olympic athletes. During each installment of the Olympic Games, there are many inspirational stories and athletes that emerge, and though the Games haven’t begun, the 2008 Beijing Olympics is already no exception to this trend. Let’s discuss some of the inspirational athletes that will aspire to compete in this year’s Olympic Games.

Recently, Oscar Pistorius of South Africa has become a huge story due to his battle to be included in the running for participation in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. You may have already heard of him, or even seen clips of him in action on television or elsewhere. If so, you’d know him immediately. Why? Because he was born without fibulas in either of his legs, and is a double-amputee as a result.

Pistorius had both of his legs amputated below the knee, and is only able to run because of custom made carbon fiber “blades” that are shaped much like a normal leg and foot are. The blades (nicknamed “Cheetah” blades by some) allow Pistorius to maintain balance and propel himself as an able-bodied runner does. Now, if Pistorius was merely able to compete after all he’s been through, that would be inspirational enough. However, Pistorius doesn’t just compete, he wins.

Pistorius, who is a former athlete in other sports, such as rugby, wrestling, and tennis, has dominated at Paralympic events, which is impressive in its own right, as he has set world records in the 100, 200, and 400 meter runs for Paralympic athletes. However, Pistorius didn’t stop there. He has also experienced success while competing against able-bodied competitors, even winning events such as the 400 meters in his native South Africa.

Sadly, Pistorius was originally barred from competing against able-bodied athletes, but after an appeal and studies by scientists who insist that Pistorius’ blades give him no unfair advantage, Pistorius has earned the right to try to participate in the 2008 Olympic Games. He has a bit of work to do, as his best time is one second off of the Olympic qualifying standard for the 400 meters, but Pistorius is used to overcoming odds.

Meanwhile, middle-aged people everywhere will be rooting for American swimmer Dara Torres. Torres competed in her first Olympics in 1984, believe it or not, and will be competing in her record fifth Olympic Games if she qualifies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At 41 years old (and after having a baby a few years ago), Torres is somehow swimming better than ever.

Torres’ success is the result of hard work, diligent training, and intelligence. Since she can’t train as hard as her younger counterparts, she must train smarter than they do. She spends only about half as much time in the pool as she did earlier in her career, but has managed to swim faster times than she did then. She has lost weight since her last Olympic appearance, but has simultaneously increased her strength, through a dedicated and smart weight training program.

Unlike younger athletes, Dara Torres must take even more care of herself than the average Olympic athlete. Since her body doesn’t recover as well as a twenty year old’s after a difficult workout, Torres simply must make the most of her workouts, while spending more time recovering properly. Regular massages and other types of therapy help her to train at a high level, despite her age.

Clearly, if Torres is able to qualify, and better yet, win at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it will be a victory for not just her, but 40-year olds everywhere! However, everyone can take something away from witnessing athletes like Torres and Pistorius, who refuse to let the limitations others put on them form their own realities. After all, if Torres can swim competitively at age 41, and Pistorius can run with the best of them as a double-amputee, think of the things you can accomplish!

Marta is a Brazilian soccer player who is one of the most exciting athletes on the planet today. She is known in the world football community as a female version of Pele (widely regarded as the greatest football player of all time), and has led her Brazilian compatriots to success already. She will be gunning for the gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and you won’t want to miss it.

Marta, whose full name is Marta Vieira da Dilva, was born in February of 1986. At only 1.52 meters tall, she is often one of the smaller players on the field, but she is never intimidated by larger players, and uses her quickness and speed to her advantage. She’s also known as one of the most creative football players in the world, male or female. She is especially dangerous to play against, because other teams never know exactly what she is going to do. This, of course, also makes her exhilarating to watch.

She has led the Brazilian national team to an Olympic silver medal at the 2004 Sydney Olympics, as well as a second place finish in the 2007 Women’s World Cup, where she was the tournament’s top scorer and most outstanding player. She also helped her home country defeat the United States team in the Pan American Games in 2007. Afterwards, Pele himself called to congratulate her, and she was honored by having the imprint of her feet cast in cement outside of the stadium. No other woman has received the honor, which is usually reserved for male stars.

Amazingly, Marta displayed maturity at a very young age, leading Brazil to a gold medal at the Pan-American Games in Santo Domingo in 2003, at only 17 years old. Almost immediately after, she began playing professional football in Sweden for one of Europe’s top clubs (Umeå). She was also the UEFA Women’s Cup leading scorer a year later, as she scored 22 goals.

Marta has led her Swedish club team, Umeå, to new heights as well. In 2004, she took Umeå to their first Swedish Premier League championship. Just two years later, she led Umeå to yet another league championship, cementing her reputation as a winner who would help teammates elevate their game to meet any goals.

Already, at age 22, Marta has achieved much individual success to go along with the success she has led Brazil to. In 2005, she was named runner up for the prestigious FIFA World Player of the Year award, and she would go on to win the award in 2006, then again in 2007. Marta’s play has inspired awestruck responses among fellow players, male and female, as well as longtime football experts and fans alike.

It’s not just the results, but the method in which Marta achieves her greatness that makes her special and revered by football enthusiasts everywhere. Marta frequently pulls off moves that would seem impossible to others. In fact, many of the maneuvers that Marta performs in games are the type that other competitors would not even think to try, let alone be able to do themselves.

Marta has set the stage for a return to the Olympics this year in Beijing, as she was instrumental in helping Brazil defeat Ghana 5-1 to claim a position in the Olympic Games. Brazil is definitely one of the favorites to take home the gold medal in Beijing, and with Marta leading the way, it wouldn’t be smart to bet against them.

When the Summer Olympics begin this year in Beijing, make sure to keep an eye on Marta and the Brazilian women’s national football team. A talent like Marta only comes along once in a great while, and with a stage like the 2008 Beijing Olympics for her to perform on, it’s impossible to predict how great of a performance she will come up with.

Oscar Pistorius won’t be hard to pick out if he’s able to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and line up for the 400 meters. After all, Pistorius has spent his whole life standing out from the crowd. If you’re watching, he’ll be the runner who, instead of fibulas and feet, will have two curved metal blades to support himself. Pistorius is a double-amputee who was born without fibulas.

Despite the disadvantages that he faced as a boy who was amputated from the knee down on both legs, Pistorius has always been focused on tackling new challenges. Pistorius competed in wrestling, rugby, water polo and tennis as a youth, and played water polo and tennis at a high enough level to be one of the best in his area. In January of 2004, Pistorius was hurt in a rugby match, and was introduced to running during his rehabilitation process. Instantly, he was hooked.

Since then, Pistorius has trained day and night to be able to compete not only against other Paralympic athletes, but able-bodied athletes as well. His Paralympics career got off to a very quick start. In the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece, Pistorius qualified for the final heat of the 200 meter race, even though he briefly fell during the preliminary race. When the final race arrived, Pistorius didn’t fall again- instead, he set a world record tie of 21.97 seconds, beating not only double amputees like himself, but also single amputee Americans Brian Frasure and Marlon Shirley.

Pistorius didn’t stop there. In 2005, he won the gold medal at the Paralympic World Cup for both the 100 and 200 meter races, even besting his previous 200 meter world record. He continued to dominate Paralympic events, winning three gold medals at the 2006 Paralympic Athletics World Championships for winning the 100, 200 and 400 meter events. Finally, in March of 2007, Pistorius set a disability sports record with a time of 46.56 in the 400 meter dash during the South African Senior Athletics Championships. He would set more records for the 100 and 200 meter races at the Nedbank Championships for the Physically Disabled later that same year.

What really turned heads, however, was Pistorius’ performances against his able-bodied counterparts. In 2005, Pistorius was able to win the 400 meter race in the South African Championships with a time of 47.34 seconds. He was also a participant at Rome’s Golden Gala, where he bested his previous 400 meter time with a run of 46.90 seconds, good enough for second place. At this point, Pistorius began to seriously entertain competing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Unfortunately, the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) had other ideas. They ruled that according to their sponsored scientific study by a German man, that the conclusion had been reached that Pistorius’ carbon fiber blades (known as “Cheetah” blades) gave Pistorius an unfair advantage. This was certainly a first for Pistorius, being pointed at as the competitor who had the advantage!

However, Pistorius fought with all his might to have the decision overturned, just as he had fought all his life while competing in able-bodied sports competitions. Finally, his appeal to the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) was successful, as the CAS announced on May 16, 2008 that Pistorius would be allowed to compete against able-bodied athletes after all. The CAS had held their own studies that showed that Pistorius’ carbon fiber blades did not provide a significant advantage over the other runners.

With that battle finally finished, Pistorius still faces an uphill battle to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. His best time is about a second away from the Olympic qualifying time for the 400 meter run, which is 45.55 seconds (45.95 seconds if no other South African meets the lower time). If Pistorius is unable to do so, he is still a possible choice for the South African relay team. No matter what happens, if we see Oscar Pistorius line up at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, we’ll be witnessing history in the making.