Among teen winners in London, how likely are these prodigies to continue their success in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro?
5. Gabby Douglas » We’ve seen how quickly the window closes on female gymnasts. No American female gymnast has participated in consecutive Olympics since Dominique Dawes at ages 15 (1992), 19 (1996) and 23 (2000).
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4. Katie Ledecky » The swimmer from Bethesda, who took the gold in the 800, will be 19 in four years. Janet Evans won three golds at 17, then one at 21. Rebecca Adlington, of Great Britain, who holds the world record in the 800, did it at age 19 in Beijing.
3. Ye Shiwen » Amid accusations of doping, the 16-year-old swimmer from China captured gold in the 200 and 400 individual medleys. Will she be able to maintain her edge and avoid burnout as she undergoes close scrutiny and another four years in the rigorous Chinese system?
2. Missy Franklin » The 17-year-old won four swimming golds in London, putting her on a similar pace as Michael Phelps, who won six as a 19-year-old. Female swimmers have a more difficult time sustaining excellence into their 20s, Dara Torres notwithstanding.
1. Kirani James » Not only did he deliver Grenada its first Olympic medal, he did it at age 19. Will he have a career as long as that of the greatest 400-meter runner ever, Michael Johnson, who won his final Olympic gold medal in Sydney at age 33?
– Kevin Dunleavy
