Michael Phelps

The American torpedo, swam his way into the history books with a perfect eight gold medals from eight events. Was it really ever in any doubt at all that he would eclipse the great Mark Spitz and become the most decorated Olympian of all time? No, I don't think it was.

Zou Shiming

So many of China's hopes in their home Olympics rested on the tiny shoulders of light-flyweight boxer Zou Shiming. The reigning world champion did not disappoint, sailing all the way to gold.

Chris Hoy

The Scottish cyclist led Britain's remarkable success story at the velodrome, proving utterly invincible as he scooped three gold medals, the first such achievement by a Briton in one hundred years.


Matthias Steiner

There was hardly a dry eye in the house when Germany's Matthias Steiner won weightlifting gold and, with her picture in one hand and his medal in the other, dedicated victory to his late wife Susann, who died in a car crash last year.

Rafael Nadal

Nadal provided the most persuasive argument about why tennis deserves to stay in the Games, relishing his time in the Athletes Village and once again dominating on court to add gold to his Wimbledon and ever-growing Grand Slam triumphs.