Asafa Powell

Sport: Track and Field

Nation: Jamaica

DOB: November 23, 1982

Career Highlights: One of the elder statesmen among Jamaica's deep group of sprinters, Powell once led the way. He held the world record in the 100 meters for nearly three years, taking it as low as 9.74 seconds before Usain Bolt surpassed him in 2008. While Bolt stole the show that year at the Beijing Games, Powell settled for a disappointing fifth-place finish in the 100 - the same result he had in 2004 in Athens. He did pick up a gold medal in Beijing by running the anchor leg of the 4x100-meter relay, helping Jamaica set a world record with a time of 37.10 seconds, but an injured Powell watched his teammates break that record at last year's world championships. Powell has two individual bronze medals in the 100 from the 2007 and 2009 worlds and four golds in that distance at the World Athletics Final, but he has been dogged by questions about why his best performances have never aligned with the biggest events. Looking to shake that reputation and knowing the London Games will likely be the last Olympics for the 29-year-old, Powell vowed earlier this year to rededicate himself to training and race during the indoor season for the first time in years. "My age is moving as fast as me," Powell said. "Over the years I've been kind of lazy, thinking my talent alone can do it. This year, I'm trying something new."

Olympic History: 2008,2004