The LIVESTRONG.COM Blog

The day has come and it’s finally time for the Olympics to begin! The Opening Ceremonies are set to appear on NBC around the country at around 7:30 p.m. (check your local listings).

While you are gearing up for the events, we wanted to highlight a few special athletes in the games that you should watch.

Eric Shanteau

Olympic swimmer Eric Shanteau was diagnosed with testicular cancer one week before making the Beijing Olympic team. Shanteau is 24-years-old and competes in the 200-meter breaststroke.

Why you should watch: Shanteau may not be the number one contender for the gold in his event, but he finished ahead of former world-record holder Brendan Hansen in the event.

When to watch:

8/12 7:48 p.m., Heats

8/13 10:56 a.m., Semifinals

8/14 10:03 a.m., Finals

Read the AP News interview with Eric Shanteau

Dara Torres

Dara Torres is a force in the water. She’s fast, she’s been to five Olympics, and she is 41-years-old.

Why you should watch: Dara is competing in three events: 50 meter freestyle, 4 x 100 medley relay and the 4 x 100 freestyle relay. Her experience and speed are sure to bring confidence to the team where she swims as the freestyle anchor.

When to watch:

8/09 8:40 p.m., 4 x 100m Freestyle heats

8/10 11:21 a.m., 4×100m Freestyle Finals

8/15 6:55 p.m., 50 meter heats

8/15 8:38 p.m. 4 x 100 medley relay heats

8/16 10:58 a.m., 50m Freestyle Semifinals

8/17 10:03 a.m., 50m Freestyle Finals

8/17 10:40 a.m., 4 x 100 Medley Finals

Read the most recent article covering Torres at TIME.

Oksana Chusovitina

Oksana Chusovitina has competed in five olympics, and at the age of 33 she is a true veteran in a sport comprised of teens and young adults. She’ll be competing for Germany this year, after having competed for the Unified Team in 1992, Uzbekistan at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics.

Why you should watch: Chusovitina is competing in the team all-around and in the Vault event finals. She’s a truly talented gymnast who brings an unparalleled professionalism and maturity to her events. She’s a mother and a wife, and continues to compete professionally to fund her son’s leukemia treatment.

When to watch:

8/13 10:30 a.m., Women’s Team Final

8/17 6:43 p.m., Women’s Vault Final

Read Oksana’s full profile at NBCOlympics.com

Welcome to Olympics month! We all know how difficult it is to motivate yourself to go to the gym, so this month in honor of the Olympics we’ll be featuring a few Olympic-inspired workouts. So far we have covered:

Jump Like a Gymnast: Jumping and Leaping on the Balance Beam

Gymnasts are required to do leaps and jumps on a beam 4.5 feet in the air. While we all don’t have a balance beam, incorporating jumps and leaps into a workouts can increase balance and leg muscle tone. Take a look at how professional gymnasts practice. Watch the video.

While you are at it, learn some exercises that will add a little height to your jumps. Read more on how to increase your vertical jump with our helpful how-to article. Read more »

Get Your Kicks: Tone Legs with Swimming