Michael Phelps

Age: 26
Occupation: Olympic-champion swimmer

At the London Olympics, the owner of 16 Olympic medals won't repeat his performance in Beijing, where he won eight golds to break Mark Spitz's 1972 record for most top medals at an Olympic Games. Especially if fellow American Ryan Lochte, the 2011 World Swimmer of the Year, who won five golds at the 2011 Worlds, continues his ascent. But after losing his passion for swimming following the Beijing Games, Phelps is training hard for what he has said will be his last Olympics.

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