Jessica Lopez

Sport: Gymnastics

Nation: Venezuela

DOB: January 22, 1986

Hometown: Caracas

Career Highlights: A late bloomer as an elite gymnast, the Venezuela native competed in the Beijing Games in 2008, placing 40th in the all-around competition after being the last athlete from her country to make the team. Already in college at the University of Denver when she qualified for the Olympics, Lopez didn't rise to the elite level at a younger age as so many other top female gymnasts do. At 26, she's established herself as a medal threat in the past few years, posting the best-ever finish for a Venezuelan at the world championships by placing 10th in 2010. Lopez also won titles in all-around, uneven bars and floor exercise at the South American championships that year and placed third in the prestigious American Cup in 2010. She's won numerous medals in World Cup competition and placed 24th at the 2011 worlds, ending that season ranked third in all-around. A gold medal in bars at the Moscow World Stars World Cup last May, in which she bested several top Russian competitors, bolstered her status as a dark-horse medal candidate for London.

Olympic History: 2008