By David Lassen and David Nielsen

Scripps Howard News Service

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.