From Wags to winners

Heather Fell, modern pentathlon, 25

Fell was ranked fourth in the world going into the games in a gruelling 12-hour event that combines fencing, shooting, a 200m freestyle swim, showjumping and a 3km run Photograph: Sarah Dempsey/PA

Sarah Ayton, sailing (yngling class), 28

Ayton hopes to win a second gold to add to the Olympic title she won with Sarah Webb and Shirley Robertson in the Athens Olympics in 2004, when their success earned them overnight celebrity and the patronising nickname 'three blondes in a boat' Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA

Debbie Flood, rowing (quadruple sculls), 28

Yorkshire-born Flood won silver four years ago in Athens and hopes to go one better this time with her crew of Frances Houghton, Annie Vernon and Katherine Grainger Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Shanaze Reade, cycling (BMX), 19

The Crewe teenager is the favourite to win gold when BMX makes its Olympic debut after cruising to victory in this year's world championships Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Beth Tweddle, gymnastics (asymmetric bars), 23

The South Africa-born gymnast has endured a tough time in the games, missing out on the floor final and struggling into the bars final in eighth place as she recovers from a rib injury Photograph: Rob Carr/AP

Kelly Sotherton, athletics (heptathlon), 31

In Athens four years ago, all eyes were on the defending champion, Britain's Denise Lewis, but the surprise medallist was the then 27-year-old Sotherton, ranked only 21st in the world Photograph: John Giles/PA