Power of Dreams

Power of Dreams

Simon Bruty/SI

Gold medals for 302 events will be handed out in Beijing and Michael Phelps hopes to win eight of them. Here are some other athletes hoping to realize the power of dreams.

Michael O'Neill/SI

Left to right: Ronda Rousey (judo), Rau'shee Warren (boxing), Demetrius Andrade (boxing), Marci Van Dusen (wrestling), Sarah Hammer (cycling)

Michael O'Neill/SI

Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

Michael O'Neill/SI

Left to right: Michelle Guerette (rowing); Heather Petri and Betsey Armstrong (water polo)

Michael O'Neill/SI

Mark, Diana and Steven Lopez.

Michael O'Neill/SI

Left to right: Heather O'Reilly, Kate Markgraf (15), Abby Wambach and U.S. soccer coach Pia Sundhage.

Michael O'Neill/SI

Left to right: Bryan Clay (decathlon), Reese Hoffa (shot put), Terrence Trammell (hurdler), Allyson Felix (sprinter), Jenn Stuczynski (pole vault) and LaShawn Merritt (sprinter).

Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell.

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Top row (left to right) Stacey Nuveman, Caitlin Lowe, Cat Osterman and Monica Abbott. Bottom Row (left to right): Crystl Bustos, Andrea Duran, Lauren Lappin and Laura Berg.

Michael O'Neill/SI

Left to right: Garrett Weber-Gale, Ryan Lochte, Dara Torres, Aaron Peirsol, Katie Hoff, Margaret Hoelzer, Cullen Jones and Natalie Coughlin.

Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Sprinter Tyson Gay.

Michael O'Neill/SI

China's Jun Gao.

Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.

Michael O'Neill/SI

Sheila Taormina.