25/08/2008 12:29 AM
USAIN BOLT
Three golds, three world records: Bolt assumed the mantle of the greatest sprinter of the world and he did it in exhilarating, sharp-shooting fashion, show-boating his way to victory in the fastest race of all.
MICHAEL PHELPS
The American torpedo swam his way into the history books with a perfect eight gold medals from eight events, eclipsing Mark Spitz and becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time.
ZOU SHIMING
So many of China's hopes in its 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 100 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 ever-growing Grand Slam triumphs.
EMMA SNOWSILL
Australian triathlete Snowsill was shocked to miss out on qualification for Athens and responded by winning the world title in both 2005 and 2006. Finally in Beijing, she added the Olympic title to her collection.
DARA TORRES
Torres defied the ageing process again, becoming the oldest swimmer ever to medal at the Olympics with three silvers at the age of 41, and setting an American freestyle 50m record in the process.
YELENA ISINBAYEVA
Nobody dominates her sport quite like Russian pole-vaulter Isinbayeva, who engages the crowd better than most then delivers when it matters. She duly obliged with her 24th career world record.
MAARTEN VAN DER WEIJDEN
The Dutchman was given only a slim chance of survival when he was diagnosed with leukaemia seven years ago. In Beijing, he won the gruelling 10km swim to compete his remarkable recovery.