Britain's Top 10 Olympic medal hopes

Medals have been hard to come by for Britain in the last couple of Olympic Games. Heroes like Kelly Holmes and Audley Harrison have been beacons in the dark - and with the Games in the most-improving nation China, it's not going to get any easier. So where do we look for a medal performance? LBC brings you Britain's top 10 medal hopes.

Rebecca Romero
You could pick any of the British Cycling Team as ones to watch, after they dominated the recent world championships, winning nine of a possible 12 golds. It could be Mark Cavendish with his four stage wins in the Tour de France, Victoria Pendleton, by far the fastest woman in the worlds or triple World Champion Bradley Wiggins. But we've plumped for Romero, who could become the first Briton to win medals in different sports, after her rowing silver in Athens four years ago.

Tom Daley
It may be too much to expect a 14-year-old to bring home a gold medal, but those are the expectations that the country has after this diver has after he shot to fame with a European Championships gold medal. He's not a medal favourite, but he's done amazingly well just to reach Beijing.

Phillips Idowu
The eccentric triple jumper with wild hair and facial piercings has always flattered to deceive in major championships, but with a season-leading leap and a world indoor title to his name, he could be Britain's big winner this year.

Ben Ainslie
In the lean medal years over the last couple of Olympics, we've relied on Ainslie to bring in the medals and he hasn't disappointed. The Cornishman is going for a hat-trick of golds this time around.

David Price
Four years ago, when Amir Khan's boxing silver launched his career, he was Britain's only boxer. This year, we have a seven-man Olympic squad - and big hopes. Super-heavyweight David Price will lead the team after top man Frankie Gavin withdrew from the Games after failing to make the weight.

Katherine Grainger
With Steve Redgrave's five golds, Britain has an impressive legacy in rowing, but Grainger is aiming for a first women's gold in the sport in Beijing. After winning silver in the last two Olympic Games, she is looking to go one better this time around.

Andy Murray
After thrilling the Wimbledon crowds earlier this year, hopes are high for Murray. With Nadal looking unbeatable on any surface, the singles' title may be beyond him, but teaming up with older brother Jamie, they could be medal contenders in the men's doubles.

Tim Brabants
The Surrey doctor won a bronze medal in Sydney eight years ago in the 1,000m flatwater kayaking, but is only now starting to blossom. As the current World and European champion, he is a strong medal hope for the British team. Look out for Campbell Walsh in the slalom kayaking as well.

William Fox-Pitt
Sadly there will be no Royal presence this year, due to Zara Phillips' injury. So with 11 wins to his name over the last 18 months, William Fox-Pitt will be our main medal hope, looking to go one better than his Athens silver medal in both the individual and team competitions.

Shanaze Reade
BMX makes its Olympic debut in Beijing this year and Reade is the world's best. The 19-year-old has won the last two World Championships - and by quite some distance. She is as sure of a bet of gold as it's possile to be for Britain.

Also watch out for:
Athletes Martin Rooney (400m) and Marilyn Okoro (800m), who both ran personal bests at the recent event at Crystal Palace. Plus we have World Champion at the 400m Christine Ohuruogo, while Kelly Sotherton

In swimming, Liam Tancock is the short course world champion in the 100m backstroke and world 50m backstroke record holder.

Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson brought badminton to the fore in 2004 and will be hoping to upset the home favourites by taking home gold in the mixed doubles.

And what about Paula Radcliffe? Still recovering from a stress fracture to her thighbone, she is hoping to recover in time for the marathon. Can she put the disappointment of Athens behind her?