Athletes to watch from around the world

Check out these international contenders. We predict they'll be the Games' record-breakers and history-makers.

The heartbreaker: Dayron Robles, Men's 110m hurdles

The script says that Liu Xiang is supposed to defend his Olympic 110 metres hurdles title in front of an adoring China. But Cuban Dayron Robles could be the man to make that script go up in flames – the 21-year-old from Guantanamo beat Liu's world record earlier this year, and has still been improving since twice beating Liu in 2007 (in four attempts). Liu has had a tough season, struggling constantly with a sore hamstring. The Chinese superstar pulled out of a meet in New York and was disqualified for a false start at the Profontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, his last big meet before the Olympics.

The prodigy: Tom Daley, Men's 10m platform diving (individual and synchronized)

Britain's Tom Daley will have recently turned 14 when he arrives in Beijing to take on one of the Games' strongest fields, including Chinese pair Lin Yue and Zhou Luxin, German number one Sascha Klein and world champion Gleb Galperin. But the world number six from Plymouth is not here to make up the numbers – he beat Klein to become European champion earlier this year and took bronze in synchronised diving during February’s World Cup.

The Water Cube: Men’s 10m platform synchronised final, Monday 11, 2.30pm; Men’s 10m platform individual final, Saturday 23, 8pm.

The history-maker? Bernard Lagat, Men’s 1,500m and 5,000m

Kenyan-born American Bernard Lagat is aiming to become the first US athlete in history to win gold in the Olympic 1,500m and 5,000m races, after he became the first athlete ever to win the middle-distance double at the World championships last year. But questions will be asked about his nationality. He was Kenyan when he won silver in the 1,500m at Athens in 2004, but lost his medal when he later announced later he was really a naturalised American citizen at the time (he was also barred from the 2005 World Championships for this). American or Kenyan, he’ll be a superstar if he does the double this month.

The Bird’s Nest: Men’s 1,500m final, Tuesday 19, Event 10 of 10, evening session 7pm-10.50pm; Men's 5,000 final, Saturday 27, Event 5 of 7, evening session 7pm-9.30pm.

The phenomenon: Natalie du Toit, Women’s marathon swimming

This year’s marathon swimming event could produce one of the great Olympic stories. South African amputee Natalie du Toit, who had her left leg amputated above the knee after a scooter accident seven years ago, is the first amputee ever to compete in an able-bodied Olympics. More astonishingly, the 24-year-old is an outside bet for a medal – she qualified for the Games after coming in fourth against a top field in the (able-bodied) 10km race at the World Open Water Swimming Championships in Seville earlier this year.

Women’s marathon swimming final, Shunyi Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Park, Wednesday 20, 9am.

The one-woman team: Kirsty Coventry, Women’s 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke and 200m individual medley

Though Robert Mugabe calls her "a golden girl," Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry (pictured) has risen despite her country’s terrible recent history. At the Athens Olympics in 2004, she single-handedly made her country 49th in the medal tally with her gold, silver and bronze medals, and will be hoping that her individual haul bumps Zimbabwe up even further this month.

The Water Cube: Women’s 100m backstroke final, Tuesday 12, 10.15am approx; Women’s 200m backstroke final, Saturday 16, 10am; Women’s 200m individual medley final, Wednesday 13, 11.20am approx.

The hot celebrity:Jennie Finch, US women’s softball

Jennie Finch is the most famous softball player of all time, partly because of her record as one of the world’s best pitchers and partly for being somewhat easy on the eye. She recently defeated Anna Kournikova in an ESPN poll on the most attractive female athlete, and modelled for the 2005 and 2006 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. She’s also appeared on the US reality TV show The Apprentice.

Women’s softball final, Fengtai Softball Field, Thursday 21, 5pm