The Olympic Games are unique. Nothing in world society, culture and sport matches the magnificent spectacle every four years of more than 10,500 athletes pursuing the dream of gold medal glory.

The original Olympics, more than 2,000 years ago, were confined to ancient Greece. Today's stars compete in front of a worldwide audience measured in billions. Modern media technology has established them as household names and here are the stories of 100 United States superstars plus a selection of other Games legends.

US competitors have brought home more than 1,000 gold medals, led by the likes of Carl Lewis, Jesse Owens and Wilma Rudolph on the track, Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz in the pool and so many more since the first American Olympic champion, James B Connolly, in Athens in 1896. Within these pages the qualities behind the talents which have delivered such historic sporting drama are both examined and celebrated.