Shalaya Kipp

Sport: Track and Field

Nation: United States of America

DOB: August 19, 1990

Career Highlights: The underdog of the American 3,000-meter steeplechase team, Kipp will compete at the London Games despite yet having to graduate from college. An alpine ski racer of 10 years, Kipp was persuaded to compete in the steeplechase in her freshman year at Colorado and promptly picked up a bronze at the NCAA outdoor championships in 2011. Winner of the same competition this year, Kipp finished third at the Olympic trials to seal her place on Team USA. She'll be hard-pressed to reach the podium in London. Kenya’s Milcah Chemos Cheywa and the Ethiopian pair of Sofia Assefa and Hiwot Ayalew are the standout favorites for the three medal positions, having posted nine of the 11 fastest times in the world this year.

Olympic History: None