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10 Olympians to watch in Rio

By Dani Bostick

OMAHA, NE - JULY 02: Michael Phelps of the United States competes in the final heat for the Men's 100 Meter Butterfly during Day Seven of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CenturyLink Center on July 2, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JULY 02: Michael Phelps of the United States competes in the final heat for the Men's 100 Meter Butterfly during Day Seven of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CenturyLink Center on July 2, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Michael Phelps set a record for the most gold medals at the 2008 Olympics.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JULY 16: Michael Phelps trains during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Training Camp Media Day on July 16, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

2. Michael Phelps, Swimming

The Rio Games will Michael Phelps’ fifth Olympics. Even if the Olympics were held yearly, this would be an incredible feat. To consider that Michael Phelps has appeared in Olympic competitions dating back to the Sydney games in 2000 when he was just 15 years old. Check out a super-young Phelps in his first Olympic appearance.

Now more than double the age he was in 2000 , Phelps has 22 Olympic medals and is the most decorated Olympian of all time. In Rio, Phelps could very well add to his stash in both individual events and relays. After all, he qualified for Rio in three events: the 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, and the 100m butterfly.

Phelps has had several scandals during his life, including a DUI in 2004 when he was only 19 and another such violation in 2014. The 2014 incident appears to have generated lasting change in Phelps that has resulted in renewed focus and a new family. His baby Boomer Robert, who is named after his longtime coach Bob Bowman, was born on May 5. While the human-interest side of Phelps’ story is not as compelling as other athletes, it is hard to to root for him now that he is a stable, mature, family man. He is coming full-circle from his days as a youthful, nervous 15-year-old and will be competing with the benefit of experience and maturity.

If you tune into watch Michael Phelps, you will witness to sports history. Even if you don’t like swimming, you should not miss Phelps in Rio.

Next: 1. Katie Ledecky, Swimming