A star on the international circuit since his world title in 1993, the Texan could begin to attract the same attention in his own country with victories in either the road race or the individual time trial.
BRUCE BAUMGARTNER
WRESTLING
One of this country’s greatest–and most dignified–athletes for more than a decade, the heavyweight will be after both his third gold medal and a record 13th world-level medal at age 35.
AMANDA BEARD AND JILEN SIROKY
SWIMMING
Call them the baby breaststrokers. The 14-year-olds finished 1-2 in the 200 at the U.S. Olympic trials and rank 1-3 in the event on the 1996 world list. Beard (above) also is a strong medal contender in the 100.
EIGHTS ARE ENOUGH
ROWING
The best hopes for U.S. rowing gold are in the biggest boats, the eight-oared shells. U.S. men are seeking their first title since 1956, when they had won eight straight. The women are reigning world champions.
JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE
TRACK
Named for Jackie Kennedy, the woman who has become the first lady of U.S. track and field wants to end her Olympic career at 34 with a gold medal on home soil. It could come in the heptathlon or long jump.
MARK LENZI
DIVING
Depressed when celebrity did not follow his 1992 springboard title, the Indiana grad thought of selling his gold medal and wallowed in self-pity for a couple of years. He has returned to be the best medal hope.
DAN O’BRIEN
TRACK
Having overcome problems with alcohol abuse, attention-deficit disorder and his notorious failure at the 1992 Olympic trials, O’Brien seems set to claim the decathlon champion’s title: world’s greatest athlete.
DOT RICHARDSON
SOFTBALL
College player of the decade in the 1980s, Richardson now is a 34-year-old orthopedic surgeon who put her career on hold to play shortstop in the inaugural Olympic softball tournament. Her team is an overwhelming favorite.
SHERYL SWOOPES
BASKETBALL
Three years have passed since the woman with the alliterative name caught U.S. fancy with 47 points in Texas Tech’s 84-82 NCAA tile win, leading Nike to name a shoe for. fame fits her game.
ANTONIO TARVER
BOXING
The reigning world champion in the light-heavyweight class is the only legitimate U.S. contender for a gold medal. The 27-year-old from Orlando went through rehab for addiction to crack cocaine in 1988.
