Sports | 2008 Beijing Olympics Top 100 Olympians to Watch Galaxy of stars aims to seize golden opportunities in Beijing By Green Point Posted Jul 28, 2008 4:07 PM CDT Copied Dara Torres leaves the starting block in the women's 50-meter freestyle preliminaries at the US Olympic swimming trials in Omaha, Neb., Saturday, July 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) With the Beijing Olympics right around the corner, Time lists the top 100 athletes to watch. A sampling of stars gunning for gold, from the court to the pool to the track: LeBron James, basketball: This determined athlete's golden guarantee is raising hopes for the US team, which has lost to the likes of Greece and Puerto Rico in recent years. Dara Torres, swimming: No swimmer has qualified a fifth Olympic run—until now. This American broke that record and may break other ones, even at age 41. Michael Phelps, swimming: With his 80-inch wingspan, size-14 feet, and almost superhuman ability to recoup from arduous training, the American's biggest adversary may be the finals' early-morning time slots. Liu Xiang, hurdles: One of China's Olympic poster boys, the country has assigned three doctors to oversee his well-being. No pressure. Yao Ming, basketball: Despite an injury in February, poster boy # 2 vowed to lead Team China in the Olympics. Allyson Felix, sprints: With an Olympic silver medal under her belt, the US star is determined to turnaround track's steroid-marred reputation by stepping up to the tallest podium, clean. Click the link below for the entire list. Read These Next Trumps ends trade talks with Canada. Gavin Newsom has filed a massive lawsuit against Fox News. New York Times ranks the best movies of the 21st century. A man has been deported for kicking an airport customs beagle. Report an error