Even Olympians have favorite Olympians

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Even Olympians have favorite Olympians. We asked several members of the U.S. team to pick their all-time favorite Olympic athlete.DEENA KASTOR, track, marathon: Joan Benoit Samuelson, (gold medalist in the marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics) was a fond very early memory of the Olympic Games. ... I was 10, or 11. Probably 11 years old, and that to me was extraordinary. It was great to see. And I became a runner the following year, or later that year.But I also remember, very clearly, Mary Lou Retton. She was always just a household name at that time. So it would be those two.SHAWN JOHNSON, gymnastics: Probably Mary Lou Retton. She's such an idol in the sport. KATIE HOFF, swimming: I've always liked Tracy Caulkins, because she swam so many events, and that's kind of what I like to do. SARAH HAMMER, cycling: I wouldn't say I had a favorite Olympian. I had favorite Olympic sports. I always loved gymnastics as a little kid, but I was way too big to be in gymnastics.I remember after Barcelona, maybe even Seoul, flipping around in my parents' front yard, pretending like I was one of these Olympians.KATIE MARKGRAF, soccer: No, I didn't. My favorite athlete ever was Wayne Gretzky, but the Olympics were always something you watched. I remember the L.A. Games. I lived in California at the time, and that was just amazing, and that's what I wanted to be and that's what I wanted to do. But at that time, I thought it would be in gymnastics or something. I had no idea it would be in soccer.HEATHER O'REILLY, soccer: I think Michael Johnson. That was so exciting with the gold shoes. That's an Olympic memory I remember from my childhood.But, you know, not to be biased, but the soccer team, for me growing up was my favorite. The first one was '96, and ever since that time, Mia Hamm's name was exposed, and Julie Foudy, Brandy Chastain, and it gave me role models to look up to. I was fortunate, because Mia Hamm, when she was growing up, she didn't have a female soccer player to look up to. So I go with the soccer team.BRIDGET SLOAN, gymnastics: Jamie Dantzscher was one of my favorite athletes in the gymnastics. I always loved watching her on TV, and I remember watching her on the Olympics with my dad. It was just awesome to see her. BETSEY ARMSTRONG, water polo: In recent years, Lance Armstrong.SAM PESZEK, gymnastics: The whole '96 (gymnastics) team. I probably watched that video until the video broke apart. I knew every comment the announcer made, and I have video of me trying to do the routines by myself. I would do it 24-7. My mom was just like, 'She's crazy.' I'd be flipping off the couches.MISTY MAY TREANOR, beach volleyball: They're all my favorite. One that I've gotten to know and I've gotten to know his family is Rafer Johnson. He's an amazing, amazing person. He's done so much and is the nicest person and has helped out so many causes. His daughter plays on our tour.ALICIA SACRAMONE, gymnastics: I definitely really looked up to Mary Lou Retton and Dominique Moceanu when I was growing up. And Dominique and Mary Lou were actually a couple of my mentors and Dominique gives me a phone call every now and then just to check up and see if I'm doing all right and ask if I need anything. And it's really great having her in my support system.CASEY BURGENER, weightlifting: My favorite Olympians were Yurik Vardanian and Alexander Kurlovich. They both lifted for the Soviet Union back in the '80s. My roommate (in Colorado Springs at the Olympic training center) was (Vardanian's) son. I talked to him a couple of times. He's amazing.MICHELLE GUERETTE, rowing: In rowing, Sir Steven Redgrave. He won medals in five Olympics, so he is a hero. VALERIE GOTAY, judo: Gary Hall Jr., (swimmer). I like the fact that he takes so much heat, but he keeps coming back. He has the diabetes. Every Olympics there's been some reason that he's not going to win. He just does what he does. I just love that.TAYLOR PHINNEY, cycling: I was into track and running. Definitely 400-meter runner, (Michael) Johnson. He was definitely a hero of mine earlier. Guys like Ian Thorpe and Michael Phelps, definitely, since they were so young when they won their medals, which is sort of a similar position as I'm in if I win a medal. I look up to those guys. I want to be like them. Hopefully someday I will.BRAD VERING, Greco-Roman wrestling: Guys like Steve Fraser, Rulon Gardner, they're definitely heroes of mine. Rulon was a pioneer of the sport, because he beat someone who is unbeatable. Steve Fraser was our first Greco-Roman Olympic champion and he's my coach now.BRADY ELLISON, archery: I was always a big fan of Rulon (Gardner) He was always one of my favorites to watch. He's a big inspiration. And also Butch Johnson, archer four-time Olympian, he's won three medals.CRYSTL BUSTOS, softball: I don't really have a favorite Olympian, but I like anyone who's in the red, white and blue.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)