100 Olympic Athletes To Watch

80. Taylor Phinney

Cycling
United States
Age: 18

When mom and dad have shiny Olympic medals, junior usually wants one too. Phinney, whose parents each earned Olympic cycling medals, is hoping to pedal his way to his own podium in Beijing. Call it genes or osmosis, but at 17 he won his first track event, the national championships; it was also his first ever competitive race. Beyond Beijing, the Colorado native hopes to continue following in his parents footsteps and turn his attention from the track to the road, which he hopes will one day lead him to the Tour de France.