10 Olympians to watch in Rio

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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Aug 11, 2013; Moscow, RUSSIA; Justin Gatlin (USA) takes a victory lap with the United States flag after finishing second in the 100m in 9.85 in the 14th IAAF World Championships in Athletics at Luzhniki Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Justin Gatlin, Track and Field

If you need some background on Justin Gatlin, one of your best bets would be to check out BET.com’s profile of him on The Fast Life Of. If you don’t want that much information on Gatlin, just the fact that a profile of him exists should be a big clue that he has had an interesting road to Rio.

Part of Gatlin’s narrative involves two separate suspensions for performance-enhancing drug (PED) violations. With all the heat Russia is taking because of their state-sponsored doping program, it is distressing that a must-watch American athlete has a past PED scandal of his own.

Regardless of fans’ views on Gatlin’s past, Gatlin himself views his suspension as an injustice that has positioned him as the comeback kid. He said via The Guardian, “Last time I checked someone who takes medication for a disorder is not a doper. Other people in the sport have taken the same medication I had for ADD and only got warnings. I didn’t.” Gatlin’s coach, Trevor Graham, has coached eight athletes who have failed tests for PEDs.

Gatlin won both the 100 and the 200 at the Olympic trials in times close to his personal bests. At 34 years of age, he is the American sprinter to make an Olympic team.

Even though the legendary Usain Bolt had an injury scare earlier in the summer, he plans to participate in the Rio. His matchup against Gatlin should be one of the most exciting of the Olympic games.

Next: 5. Ashton Eaton, Decathlon