Olympic Gymnasts To Watch

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 8, 2008

Olympic Gymnasts To Watch

Yeng Wei

After placing first in the all-around finals at the 2007 world championships, Yeng has turned into the one to beat in Beijing. His chances at gold increased when Paul Hamm announced that he wouldn't be competing in the Games this time. A gold would be four years coming to Yeng -- he led the all-around in '04 before crashing from the high bar.

Shawn Johnson

America's sweetheart is favored to take the gold in the individual all-around and could surprise people in the floor exercise.

Morgan Hamm

One of two of the most recognizable faces of American gymnastics, Morgan should be able to compete well in the floor competition while his twin brother, Paul, sits out with a hand injury.

Diego Hyp&#243;lito

A marked man after placing first by two-tenths of a point at the world championships, watch for Hypólito in the floor exercise. His training took a hit in April when he was hospitalized for dengue fever, but for a two-time world champion, it shouldn't be enough to keep him from the medal podium.

Nastia Liukin

Liukin is favored on the uneven bars after a narrow loss in the World Championships.

Li Shanshan

How good is Li on the balance beam? She fell and still stole silver in the '07 World Championships. Expect her to stick it in Beijing for a gold.

Anna Bessonova

The daughter of a pro soccer player and world champion gymnast, Bessonova is a favorite to take gold in the rhythmic individual all-around -- an event for which no U.S. gymnasts qualified.

Cheng Fei

Known best for her signature vault, Cheng took first in the vault at the '05 worlds and since then hasn't lost in the championships. She's looking to keep her streak alive at the Olympics.

Marian Dragulescu

The Romanian <i>Dancing with the Stars</i> alum is looking for his first gold at the Olympics -- right now he has a silver and two bronze in his arsenal in the vault event.