Ii Rio 2016

FIVE OF THE BEST

(Jamaica)

29 Athletics From August 13 Bolt’s hamstring injury at the start of the month will only add to the anticipation over the defence of his 100m and 200m titles in Rio. His rivalry with controversial American Justin Gatlin will once again be the headline act of the Games.

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(Netherlands) 24 Athletics From Friday 12 Three years ago Schippers was claiming a World Championship bronze medal in the heptathlon. Her stunning switch to sprinting – winning 200m gold and 100m silver at the 2015 worlds – is set to lead to Olympic medals in Brazil.

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(USA)

31 Swimming From Sunday 7 The most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals, Phelps marked his return to the big stage by qualifying for Rio in three individual distances at the US Olympic trials. As well as the 100m and 200m butterfly and the 200m individual medley, he should also figure in three relay events.

Sport: Dates: Usain Bolt Age: Dafne Schippers Michael Phelps Age: Claressa Shields Age:

(USA) 21 Sport: Boxing Dates: From August 12 The American shot to fame by claiming middleweight gold in London at the age of just 17. Invincible since, with two world titles, Shields starts as the big favourite to become a double Olympic gold medallist.

Kochei Uchimura

(Japan)

27 Sport: Gymnastics Date: From August 7 The 10-time world champion finally added all-around gold to his collection at the London Games and is favoured to do so again, provided he can hold off Briton Max Whitlock.

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