(Be guaranteed some names from this list won't medal -- and new heroes will emerge. That's why athletes hate these lists -- because they're only based on past accomplishments)
- Canoe/kayak (sprint): Currently Canadas top sport, with 2004 Olympic champ Adam van Koeverden still dominant, and several of his teammates also regular medal threats.
- Diving: Consistent international medallists Alexandre Despatie, Arturo Miranda, Emilie Heymans and Blythe Hartley are skilled and confident enough to beat the Chinese.
- Rowing: Men's eight, women's pair, and the lightweight women's double have shown great speed this season and are good bets to medal at the worlds this month in Munich, Germany.
- Athletics: The team has six or seven athletes in the top five in the world and won a fabulous 12 medals at the recent Pan Am Games, including six gold.
- Cycling: Marie-Helene Premont in mountain bike and Samantha Cools in BMX are proven winners.
- Women's soccer, softball, and water polo will be strong.
- Men's gymnastics: 2004 Olympic champ Kyle Shewfelt took 2005 off but returned to win gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
- Women's gymnastics: 2006 world bronze medallist Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs is a specialist on the beam.
- Swimming: Sprint world champion Brent Hayden and relay teams are flying high with sponsors and blazing--fast racing.
- Trampoline: Olympic medallist Karen Cockburn and top male Jason Barnett consistently break barriers in the sport.
- Wrestling: Olympic medallist Tonya Verbeek and Ohenewa Akuffo are in Beijing right now at a training camp.
- Fencing, epee: Sherraine Schalm, based in Budapest, Hungary, has been at or near the top of the world rankings for the last several years.
- Shooting: Susan Nattrass, the 2006 world champion, is 56 and at the top of her game, winning 2007 Pan Am gold.
