2016 Olympics: Power Ranking Biggest Gold Medal Favorites in Rio
The Olympics were at one time a fully amateur competition, but that was many years ago.
Now, the top professionals in many of the highest profile sports are encouraged to perform.
LeBron James and Steph Curry have not heeded that call to participate in the Olympic basketball competition for the United States, but Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson have traveled to Rio de Janeiro with the idea of bringing home the gold medal.
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The United States team is loaded with high-level talent, and a gold medal is almost a certainty. It would be a shock if any team outside of Spain could stay within 20 points of head coach Mike Krzyzewski's team, and this team is interested in following the legacy of the 1992 Dream Team that helped increase basketball's popularity around the world.
| 1 | Men's Basketball | United States | Spectacular talent combined with excellent effort. No opponent will stay close. |
| 2 | Women's Tennis | Serena Williams, U.S. | Nobody can touch her when she is on top of her game. |
| 3 | Men's 100 Meters | Usain Bolt, Jamaica | Will not be beaten in Final. |
| 4 | Women's Gymnastics | United States | Simone Biles, Laurie Hernandez lead team to yet another gold |
| 5 | 10-Meter Platform Diving | Qiu Bo, China | Flawless competitor overcomes the pressure |
| 6 | Women's Soccer | United States | Well-rounded and hungry for gold |
| 7 | Women's 400 Meters | Allyson Felix, United States | Explosive technique leads to gold. |
| 8 | Men's Golf | Henrik Stenson, Sweden | Ready to dominate after winning British Open |
| 9 | Men's 4x200 Meter Relay (Swimming) | United States | Simply won't be denied |
| 10 | 100 Meter Backstroke | Mitch Larkin, Australia | Will roll through the competition |
"We are going to Rio for one reason," Durant told me last week during Team USA's visit to the United Center in Chicago. "We are going to represent our country and win gold."
The United States has been quick to show off its overall skill in exhibition games against other Olympic participants. While some opponents may be able to play tough defense and slow down the U.S. offense for a few minutes at a time, they can't stop them for long periods.
Additionally, many of the opponents simply don't have the offensive game to come close to getting through the U.S. defense.
Assistant U.S. coach Tom Thibodeau is widely recognized as one of the top defensive minds in the sport. He said that the team's commitment to playing defense is unrelenting.
"There is no entitled attitude to these players," Thibodeau explained to me. "They are not expecting to be given the gold medal just for showing up in Rio. They know they have to work for it and I am seeing that effort in every practice and every game.
"I don't want to say it's surprising because these are some of the very best players in the NBA. But it is gratifying."
The U.S. men's basketball team is at the top of the power rankings to win the gold medal.
American tennis player Serena Williams is almost certainly next on the ladder. She is the top women's tennis player in the world and she is coming off another impressive victory at Wimbledon last month.
Williams' domination is based on her overall athleticism, power and skill level. Her serve is the best in her sport and among the best of all-time.
Usain Bolt of Jamaica has won six gold medals in the last two Olympic competitions, and his signature event is the 100-meter dash.
He will try to make it three Olympic golds in a row so he can hold on to the crown as the world's fastest human.
Bolt is a remarkable athlete, and that's why he has won the gold medal in the 100 two times. He is also an incredible competitor. He is not satisfied with having won in the past. He wants more.
American sprinter Justin Gatlin is a formidable opponent, and he should be able to stay close. However, when it comes to the gold medal race, Bolt will not give in, and he will find a way to win gold again.
When it comes to pressure, few athletes will have to contend with as much as Chinese diver Qiu Bo. After winning the silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics, he is a clear favorite to win gold in the 10-meter platform dive.
The 23-year-old from Neijiang, China, has near flawless technique, but he has had problems sealing the deal at times.
"I think my biggest rival is myself," Bo told BBC Olympic sports reporter Nick Hope. "Because China is so close to the gold medal and so keen to get it, some psychological problems occur which our rivals can take an advantage of."
Bo has been through the Olympics before, and that will help him. Look for him to overcome the pressure and win the gold medal with a spectacular effort.
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