Must read: 10 ATHLETES TO WATCH OUT FOR AT RIO OLYMPICS

 1. In between winning his first Olympic 100m title at Beijing 2008 and his 11th world gold – in the 4x100m relay in the Chinese capital seven years later – Usain Bolt pocketed another 15 Olympic and world championship gold medals.

2. Now into her thirties, Serena Williams shows no sign of letting up – stating the day after winning singles gold that London would not be her Olympic swansong.

3. Considering his status as one of Britain’s greatest ever Olympians, Bradley Wiggins - one of the few cyclists ever to achieve success in both track and road cycling – had a relatively low profile outside his sport prior to 2012. But stellar performances in the Tour de France that year and weeks later in London were to change his life, topping a remarkable turnaround in what has been a turbulent career.

4. It’s not clear what the Michael Phelps way will be from this point on, but with 22 Games medals to his name, including an astonishing 18 golds, his record as the most decorated Olympian of all time seems likely to last for at least the rest of his retirement.

5. To many he is simply the greatest badminton player of all time – but Lin Dan’s stunning performance at London 2012 raised his profile yet further.

6. The Games occupy a special place in the heart of Roger Federer, the most successful men’s tennis player of all time, and the Swiss has his sights firmly set on a golden Olympic swansong at Rio 2016.

7. Goalkeeper Hope Solo has been a pillar of the US women’s football team for many years, helping them win back-to-back golds at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

8. Long distance running, a discipline dominated for so many years by African athletes, has not had the highest of profiles in Britain. But all that changed at London 2012 when Mo Farah became the first Briton to win both the 5,000m and 10,000m.

9. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has rejected every Russian athlete except Darya Klishina from participating in international competitions.

10. Having won Brazil’s first olympic artistic gymnastics gold with a sparkling performance on the rings at London 2012, Arthur Zanetti is determined to do it all over again in front of his own fans in Rio.