The Olympic Games are unique. Nothing in world society, culture and sport matches the magnificent spectacle every four years of more than 10,500 sportsmen and woman pursuing the dream of gold medal glory.
The original Olympics, more than 2,000 years ago, were confined to ancient Greece. Today's stars compete in front of a worldwide audience measured in billions. Modern media technology has established them as household names and here are the stories of 100 Team GB superstars plus a selection of other Games legends.
British competitors have brought home more than 280 gold medals. These include 'Chariots of Fire' champions Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell to Seb Coe and Steve Ovett and more recently Jason and Laura Kenny, Chris Hoy plus Steve Redgrave and so many more since the first British Olympic champion, weightlifter Launceston Elliot, in Athens in 1896. Within these pages the qualities behind the talents which have delivered such historic sporting drama are both examined and celebrated.
