KEY POINTS:
VALERIE VILI
Shot put
Around 7pm, Beijing time, on August 16, have a look at Valerie Vili's face. By then, she'll have slipped on what coach Kirsten Hellier calls Vili's competition face; Vili somewhat less politely calls it her "don't f*** with me" face. Whatever you call it,
the shot put world champion will be determined to win, crowning a rise from the streets of South Auckland to the top of the sporting world.
To do take the gold in Beijing, she will have to stare down some daunting opposition. Belarus rival Nadzeya Ostapchuk has this season been throwing close to 21m (Vili's best stands at 20.53m). But Vili thrives on competition. Stand well clear, watch and enjoy.
MAHE DRYSDALE
Single sculls rowing
In some minds, Mahe Drysdale has already proved himself. Not only has the great rower won an unprecedented three world championships (2005, 2006, 2007), but he also saw off comeback king Rob Waddell when the former Olympic champion reappeared on Lake Karapiro earlier this year seeking to steal Drysdale's Games berth. Drysdale's selection match-off against Waddell is indelible evidence of the 29-year-old's mettle; his dominance at the last World Cup event in Poland proves his form. But the Olympics doesn't respect favouritism tags. Drysdale knows better than anyone that he'll have to be in the shape of his life to finally claim the title Olympic champion.
TOM ASHLEY
Boardsailing
Tom Ashley first jumped on a board at age 8 and was quickly under the influence of the powerful Kendall boardsailing dynasty. That year, he watched Barbara Kendall win her first Olympic medal, a gold in Barcelona, and soon he was being coached and mentored by Kendall's brother and fellow Olympic champion Bruce. This year, Ashley, 24, was crowned world champion, a decent encore to the gold he won at the Olympic test event last year. To win, he will have to outwit and out-sail a local hero, Chinese sailor Zhou. There's also the small matter of the threat of the algae which has hampered the sailing course. As the Kendalls will have told him though: no one said winning gold was easy.
SARAH WALKER
BMX cycling
She's the hot favourite in an event making its Olympic debut. Sarah Walker has dominated the Supercross world series, is the No 1-ranked BMX rider and was runner-up at the world championships in Canada last year. Expectation, though, is a double-edged sword. It can bring more pressure when it's not needed, particularly when you're 20 years old and making your Olympic debut. Throw into the mix an interrupted build-up when your coach walked out and started working with your chief rival. As the eight riders barrel towards the first corner duelling for the best racing line, you can bet there will be none more motivated than Walker.
ROB WADDELL AND NATHAN COHEN
Rowing double sculls
On the surface, theirs is an impossible dream: a new pairing with nothing more than a sip of international experience together. Yet they will loom as perhaps the most feared crew lining up in their event in Beijing. Rob Waddell and Nathan Cohen were brought together in dramatic circumstances: Waddell, the 2000 Olympic champion, had sought to return to the single sculls but succumbed to a heart condition during his deciding race with Mahe Drysdale. Rather than lose him from the Games squad altogether, the selectors teamed the accomplished athlete up with Cohen, a former under-23 single sculls world championship silver medallist. In age, height and weight the Kiwi pair are total opposites but as a team they have already proved lethal on the water, picking up two World Cup golds in June.
BEVAN DOCHERTY
Triathlon
Set aside for the moment the pang of disappointment that almost always gnaws at silver medallists, 2004 was an incredible year for Bevan Docherty. He won the triathlon world championship and he stood on the Olympic dais.
But as he strode over the gaudy blue mat covering the finish line at the Olympic triathlon in Athens, there was a mix of elation and slight disappointment. He had been pipped to the finish line by compatriot Hamish Carter. This year, there's no Carter. To win, Docherty will have to overcome some tough opponents, none more so than Spaniard Javier Gomez, who beat Docherty for the world championship title this year. You'll be hard-pressed to find evidence that this, or anything else, will faze the quiet, indomitable Docherty.
NATHAN TWADDLE AND GEORGE BRIDGEWATER
Rowing coxless pair
A more down-to-earth couple of blokes you're unlikely to find in world sport. They train hard - damn hard - and compete fiercely but there's no sign of ego or pretensions when you sit down for a chin-wag with Twaddle and Bridgewater. In Athens they went agonisingly close to a medal, just 0.84 seconds off bronze. But there were no histrionics. It's the Olympics but there's always another one, Twaddle said afterwards. Since then, they've been world champions in 2005 and silver medallists in 2006 and 2007. They won gold at the World Cup event in Poland on their last outing. A repeat in Beijing will no doubt be marked with a few sensible words - and a quiet celebratory lemonade or two.
SAM WARRINER
Triathlon
In a world where athletes are primed and preened for the international stage, emerging as young graduates of the academy or institute systems, Sam Warriner (left) stands out. The UK-born but fiercely proud Kiwi didn't start racing seriously until she was in her 30s. Until recently, she kept up a fulltime job, opting to keep teaching in her hometown of Whangarei. In the build-up to Beijing, she has put aside her chalk duster and switched her fulltime attention to triathlon. The extra work has paid off with Warriner honing her already formidable running ability. At 37, she has proved she has one of the fastest 10km run splits on the circuit. With that match of speed and daunting determination, no opponent will want to look over their shoulder and see her as the finish line looms.
