100 Olympic Athletes To Watch
From Australia to Zimbabwe, China to the U.S., TIME takes you on a world tour to introduce you to the most compelling athletes you'll be seeing in the Beijing Games
Gymnastics
United States
Age: 20
Gymnasts don't generally invite the label of ironwoman, but it's a title that suits Memmel well. The former world champion is best known for stepping in, as an alternate, at the 2003 world championships, and helping the Americans win the team gold that year. Then a shoulder injury kept her off the bars and beams until last year. Now, she says "I'm back. I'm done rehabbing." Coached by her father, a former competitive gymnast, in Wisconsin, Memmel has one of the most aggressive routines on uneven bars; look for her five release moves.
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