With Beijing Approaching, These Athletes Bear Watching - USATOD

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With Beijing approaching, these athletes bear Advertisement watching With the Beijing Olympics one year away, USA TODAY's Vicki Michaelis examines 10 athletes to keep on your radar:

•Thomas Finchum, diving:

A three-time national platform champion, Finchum could lift the USA out of its Olympic diving doldrums. U.S. divers did not win any medals in the 2004 Olympics after winning one in 2000. Finchum and synchro partner David Boudia have won medals in their last nine international events.

•Tyson Gay, track and field:

With reigning Olympic and world 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin serving a doping ban, Gay is the USA's best sprint hope. In the U.S. championships in June, he won the 200 in 19.62 seconds, the second-fastest time ever, after winning the 100 in 9.84 seconds.

•Paul Hamm, gymnastics:

The first American man to win all-around Olympic gold, in 2004, is returning to competition next week after a two-year layoff. His twin brother, Morgan, also is back. In their absence, the U.S. men's team, which won silver in the Athens Olympics, fell to 13th in the 2006 world championships. The USA must finish in the top 12 at the world championships next month to qualify for Beijing.

•Shawn Johnson, gymnastics:

The 15-year-old excelled among the elite gymnasts the USA sent to last month's Pan American Games, winning four golds and one silver, including the all-around title. She won the all-around at her first senior meet, the Tyson American Cup in March.

•Steven Lopez, taekwondo:

Since 2000, Lopez has won every major title in his sport, earning two Olympic golds and four world championships. Beijing could be a family affair. He's coached by his older brother, and another brother and a sister are possible Olympians in the sport.

•Misty May-Treanor/Kerri Walsh, beach volleyball:

The reigning Olympic champions have won the last three world championships. With 29 victories on the Swatch-FIVB World Tour since 2001, they are two wins shy of the record for team victories, held by Brazilians Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede.

•Donny Robinson, BMX cycling:

Robinson, 5-5, is one of several top American riders who could comprise a U.S. sweep in this new Olympic discipline. Also in the mix are Mike Day, Randy Stumpfhauser, Bubba Harris and recent world champion Kyle Bennett.

•Chloe Sutton, open-water swimming:

A two-time national champ in this new Olympic discipline, Sutton, 15, has won the Pan American Games, the Pan Pacific championships and a

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World Cup in the last year.

•Sheila Taormina, modern pentathlon:

Taormina, 38, is trying to become the first woman to compete in three sports at the Olympics, adding to appearances in swimming (1996) and triathlon (2000 and 2004). Her next chance to qualify for Beijing is the world championships Aug. 15-22.

•Dara Torres, swimming:

Torres, who became the oldest Olympic gold medalist in U.S. swimming history in the 2000 Games when she was 33, is on the comeback trail again. She will be 41 at the Beijing Olympics. Her recent national titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle show she could be a contender.

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