Aries Merritt

Sport: Track and Field

Nation: United States of America

DOB: July 24, 1985

Hometown: Bryan, TX

Career Highlights: After suffering the cruel fate of finishing fourth in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials, Merritt left nothing to chance this year. He ran the fastest time in the world in 2012 and his personal best - 12.93 seconds - to punch his ticket to London. The 2006 NCAA champion in that event as a member of the Tennessee Volunteers, Merritt has been building toward that kind of a performance in the last two years. He finished fifth at the 2011 outdoor world championships before taking a gold medal in the 60-meter hurdles at this year's indoor worlds, edging out Chinese star and former Olympic gold medalist Liu Xiang. Liu and reigning Olympic champion Dayron Robles of Cuba may be the favorites in London, but at least one American has medaled in the 110 hurdles at every Olympics except the boycotted 1980 Games. Reigning world champion Jason Richardson will be one of his teammates, but Merritt is in top form and looks like a strong candidate to come home from his first Olympics with some hardware.

Olympic History: None