If it is Gods willing which athletes will we see in Rio ?

[ATK]

Lots of similar picks so far, but I just don't see C. Taylor in the TJ. Maybe because I remember how Tamagho seemed poised to rule for years. And then didn't.

But Tamgho hasn't even done much besides won world indoors. Taylor has already won outdoor worlds and the Olympics

[berkeley]

Yohan Blake
Kirani James
Kaliese Spencer
Perri Shakes-Drayton
Francine Niyonsaba
Mutaz Essa Barshim
Valerie Adams
Christian Taylor
Lawrence Okoye
Holly Bleadsedale

Do I detect a hint of Brit-bias ? PSD, Okoye and Bleasdale are definitely exciting prospects and I would not be surprised to see any of them on the podium (though Shakes-Drayton would have to share it with Spencer), but I wouldn't put any of them in the 10 most likely. In particular, PSD took her game up this year with a home Olympics, but I don't see her improving that much more.

[GDAWG]

Yohan Blake
David Rudisha
Shelley Ann Fraser-Pryce
Kalise Spencer
Brittney Reese
Christian Taylor
Sally Pearson
Kirani James
Valerie Adams
Ashton Eaton

[EPelle]

Adele Nicoll in either the shot or discus (or both) is one whom I presume will be competitive come Rio.

[iain]

Yohan Blake
Kirani James
Kaliese Spencer
Perri Shakes-Drayton
Francine Niyonsaba
Mutaz Essa Barshim
Valerie Adams
Christian Taylor
Lawrence Okoye
Holly Bleadsedale

Do I detect a hint of Brit-bias ? PSD, Okoye and Bleasdale are definitely exciting prospects and I would not be surprised to see any of them on the podium (though Shakes-Drayton would have to share it with Spencer), but I wouldn't put any of them in the 10 most likely. In particular, PSD took her game up this year with a home Olympics, but I don't see her improving that much more.

I think you do :L I disagree about PSD, her hurdling technique is god awful and there is lots of room for improvement.

[berkeley]

Yohan Blake
Kirani James
Kaliese Spencer
Perri Shakes-Drayton
Francine Niyonsaba
Mutaz Essa Barshim
Valerie Adams
Christian Taylor
Lawrence Okoye
Holly Bleadsedale

Do I detect a hint of Brit-bias ? PSD, Okoye and Bleasdale are definitely exciting prospects and I would not be surprised to see any of them on the podium (though Shakes-Drayton would have to share it with Spencer), but I wouldn't put any of them in the 10 most likely. In particular, PSD took her game up this year with a home Olympics, but I don't see her improving that much more.

I think you do :L I disagree about PSD, her hurdling technique is god awful and there is lots of room for improvement.

She's certainly doing the right thing, IMO, hitching her wagon to John Smith's crew.

[gh]

Lots of similar picks so far, but I just don't see C. Taylor in the TJ. Maybe because I remember how Tamagho seemed poised to rule for years. And then didn't.

But Tamgho hasn't even done much besides won world indoors. Taylor has already won outdoor worlds and the Olympics

And Taylor didn't even turn 22 until the week before the Trials started. He's still just learning the event. (Having said that, I think Claye has more upside. He's almost exactly a year younger than Taylor. As in, he was only 20 when he won the World Indoor in March.

[tandfman]

I saw a report yesterday that said that Tamgho was planning a return to competition. If he's healthy, you can't count him out of the mix. He can be scary good.

[18.99s]

My prediction:

Yohan Blake
Valerie Adams
Carmelita Jeter
Georganne Moline
Blanka Vlasic (yes, she'll be back!)
Allyson Felix
Ashton Eaton
SAFP
Javier Culson
Kirani James

[nmzoo]

I can tell you that based on recent history (since 2000) of olympic-to-olympic qualifying, only about 26.5% of 2012 team members will even qualify for 2016, and of the medalists who requalify, less than half of them will medal again,

[Olli]

Has nobody mentioned Keshorn Walcott? He is young enough to be the first to get five consecutive golds in a single event!! (If this prediction proves right in 2028, don't forget to give me credit:-)

[18.99s]

Has nobody mentioned Keshorn Walcott? He is young enough to be the first to get five consecutive golds in a single event!! (If this prediction proves right in 2028, don't forget to give me credit:-)

I thought about him, but took him off my short list after looking up some facts and figures:

1. He's never thrown beyond 85m.
2. The last time Olympic gold was won with less than 85m was 1988.
3. His winning throw in London (also his SB and PB) would not have medaled (any color medial) in 1996-2008.
4. There are 11 men with longer throws than him in 2012.

Of course, performing on the day is what counts, and when it counted he beat those 11 guys who had better SBs than him, so he deserves the gold. But when comparing him to the competition (not just in the javelin, but others "competing" to be in my top 10 list) I couldn't put him my top 10.

[Olli]

Yes, but given his age Walcott is quite promising. I think his throw is second best in the all-time list of 19-year-olds. Hence he might be one of those young surprise winners that later become steadily successful – like Thorkildsen in Athens, Udo Beyer in Montreal, Bubka in Helsinki WC 1983, etc. Of course he might also vanish from the scene as quickly as he appeared there.

[bushop]

A third goal, which he has already talked about, is to retain the Olympic title in four years' time: "No question, of course Rio is a goal," asserts Harting who will be 28 next month.

[Powell]

Yes, but given his age Walcott is quite promising. I think his throw is second best in the all-time list of 19-year-olds. Hence he might be one of those young surprise winners that later become steadily successful – like Thorkildsen in Athens, Udo Beyer in Montreal, Bubka in Helsinki WC 1983, etc.

Or he could be another Krymarenko or Patoulidou... The point is, he doesn't have enough track record to be in the 'most likely' category.

[GDAWG]

It probably won't be Margus Hunt:

http://www.smudailycampus.com/sports/hu ... GXPx03AeKh

[Olli]

It probably won't be Margus Hunt:

http://www.smudailycampus.com/sports/hu ... GXPx03AeKh

Oh my, will this talent be lost to some freakish provincial ball game they confusingly call "football"?