Track and Field: Women's Shot Put preview
In Beijing, New Zealand's Valerie Vili dominated the competition en route to winning the gold medal. Now divorced and competing under her maiden name, Valerie Adams is still the preeminent thrower in the world and will be the gold-medal favorite in London. Her competition should include Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus, who has the best throw in the world this year, Nadine Kleinert of Germany, Americans Jillian Camarena-Williams and Michelle Carter, and China's Gong Lijiao.
Track and Field: Men's Shot Put preview
In Beijing, Poland's Tomasz Majewski emerged as the surprise gold medalist with a throw of 21.51m. Once an event dominated by the Americans, recent years have seen the likes of Canada's Dylan Armstrong, Germany's David Storl and Belarus' Andrei Mikhnevich push their to the top more frequently. The U.S. contingent will still be strong with Reese Hoffa, Christian Cantwell, and Ryan Whiting, but will be hard-pressed to be thinking medal sweep with the international talent opposing them and memories of last year's shutout at Worlds as a reminder.
Track and Field: Women's Discus preview
In Beijing, American Stephanie Brown-Trafton pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the Games, whirling the discus 64.74m on her first attempt to become the first U.S. champion in the event since Lillian Copeland in 1932. Since then, Brown-Trafton has slimmed down and become a more agile athlete in the ring, which makes her dangerous again. The favorite, however, is Sandra Perkovic of Croatia, who has been the most consistent thrower in the world. Dariya Pischalnikova of Russia has the lone throw over 70 meters in the world this year. Nadine Mueller of Germany, Yarelis Barrios of Cuba, Zaneta Glanc of Poland, Dani Samuels of Australia and Li Yanfeng of China round out the list of favorites.
Track and Field: Men's Discus preview
In Beijing, Estonia's Gerd Kanter put the exclamation point on a dominant season by winning his first Olympic title with a throw of 68.82m. Since then, Germany's Robert Harting has been the top thrower on the circuit, winning gold at the 2009 and 2011 World Championships. Other throwers who could contend for medals include Poland's Piotr Małachowski, Ehsan Hadadi of Iran and the ageless Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania. The American contingent will include U.S. Trials champion Lance Brooks, 2004 Olympian Jarred Rome and Olympic rookie Jason Young.
Track and Field: Women's Hammer preview
In Beijing, Aksana Miankova of Belarus threw an Olympic-record 76.31m to win gold by over one meter ahead of Yarelis Barrios of Cuba and Wenxiu Zhang of China, both of whom figure to contend for medals again in London. In 2011, Betty Heidler of Germany set a new world record in the event, but lost to Tatyana Lysenko of Russia at the World Championships. Former world-record-holder Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland should also prove formidable. The Americans competing will be Amber Campbell, Amanda Bingson and U.S. record holder Jessica Cosby.
Track and Field: Men's Hammer preview
In Beijing, Primoz Kozmus of Slovenia threw 82.02m to hold off Belarusians Vadim Devyatovskiy and Ivan Tsikhan, who were later disqualified for doping violations then reinstated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport due to errors committed by the Chinese lab that conducted the tests. Other contenders in London could include Koji Murofushi of Japan, the 2004 Olympic and 2011 world champion, and Krisztian Pars of Hungary. The Americans competing will be U.S. Trials champion Kibwe Johnson and A.G. Kruger.
Track and Field: Women's Javelin preview
In Beijing, Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic prevailed in a competitive duel with Russia's Maria Abakumova and took the gold at 71.42m. At the 2011 World Championships in Daegu it was Abakumova who came out on top, winning by just under half a meter at 71.99m. Those two should be at it again in London, while Christina Obergfoll of Germany, Sunette Viljoen of South Africa, Vira Rebryk of Ukraine and Goldie Sayers of Great Britain try to contend. The Americans competing will be U.S. Trials champion Brittany Borman, American record holder Kara Patterson and Rachel Yurkovich.
Track and Field: Men's Javelin preview
In Beijing, Norway's Andreas Thorkildsen dominated the competition, unleashing a throw of 90.57m, which won him a repeat gold medal by nearly four meters and set a new Olympic record. Thorkildsen remains one of the best throwers in the world and a win in London would tie him with the great Jan Zelezny for the most Olympic titles in history. His main competition figures to come from Germany's Matthias de Zordo, the 2011 world champion, Vitezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic, and Tero Pitkamaki of Finland. The Americans competing will be Craig Kinsley, Sean Furey and Cyrus Hostetler.
LISOVSKAYA Natalya 
BARNES Randy 
REINSCH Gabriele 
SEDYKH Yuriy 
Barbora Špotáková 