During June's Olympic trials, Tyson Gay clocked the fastest time ever recorded in the 100 meters, and even though the wind speed at the time kept him from breaking any records, it got people talking. He'll be running the same event in the Olympics on a just-healed strained hamstring.

Ogonna Nnamani, 25: Volleyball
Hometown: Normal, Illinois

During her senior year at Stanford University, Ogonna Nnamani led her team to an NCAA championship; she went pro in Europe after graduating. Of volleyball, she once said, "I know you can run a 100-yard dash by yourself or throw a really good pitch on your own. But in volleyball you rely on your team for every skill you perform." This will be her second time at the Olympics.

Full disclosure: I've known Keeth Smart for several years. In addition to being wonderful athletes, he and his sister — both Olympic veterans — are very nice people who greatly deserve anything positive that comes their way. Cheer for them; I know I will.

Cullen Jones first made an appeared in Stereohyped's pages because of his admirable efforts to bring swimming to the inner city. The Bronx-born Jersey native has a bunch of world medals under his belt but none with the Olympic stamp.