Be likeLolo Jones
At the 2008 Olympics, Jones was a favorite in the 100-meter hurdles.
She was on pace to win golduntil she tripped over the penultimate hurdle.
This could be the year of Lolo’s 100-meter revenge.
“Bad things can be good,” she says, “if you use them as motivation.”
Be likeGwen Jorgensen
Before USATriathloncalled to recruit her, Jorgensen had a plan: desk job.
Now she’ll compete to win a 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run.
The Olympic race is on the same course, and she plans to make history again.
As she says, “I’m 100 percent ready.”
Listen to all the Olympians' motivating tunes.
Watch for her in the Olympicsif you’re free to see her streak by.
She got her nickname for a reason!
If past is prologue, then we’re gonna take a stab and say she’s got this.
Her current tally from the past two Games: three gold, four silver and four bronze.
Coughlin’s take: “My first Olympics was about proving myself.
My second, about defending my titles.
Now I just feel strong.”
Our take: Go get it, girl!
(Good God!)
If she sticks it, she might just get something shiny in return.
Be likeShalane Flanagan
The 26.2 miles Flanagan will run in London will be her third marathon.
As in, ever.
After taking bronze in the 10,000 meters in Beijing, Flanagan decided it was time topush herself even harder.
This past January, she raced the Olympics marathon qualifier and finished first, setting the event record.
“Each time I run one, it feels like Christmas.”
This year, Christmas comes on August 5, when the gun goes off.
Be likeMarlen Esparza
A six-time National Champion, Esparza rules the ring.
And she’ll have the chance to wow the world aswomen’s boxingmakes its Games debut.
“Going to the Olympics is not just a dream,” she says.
“It’s what I’ve revolved my entire life around.”
“I wasn’t sure why I was diving,” she says.
“It wasn’t fun anymore.”
But after about a year, she recalls, “I realized I had so much more to accomplish.
I got a burning desire to go back.”
“I’d love to hear the crowd cheer again as I come out of the water.
“Thatsounds like fun.
If dedication wins medals, we say they’re golden.
In London, she hopes to put them to work to win two more medals.
“This time around, I’m going to be selfish.
I’m putting myself first!”
Which is exactly where we expect to find her at the end of each race.
