Aside from watching some of the world's greatest athletes perform in their sports at the highest level, there's one more reason you should be watching the Summer Olympics in Beijing over the next two weeks.
Three Olympians with local ties — Shalane Flanagan of Marblehead, Tim Wadlow of Beverly and Corrie Lothrop of Danvers — will either be competing in the games or serving as an alternate, ready to step in if needed.
Here's a look at the North Shore's Olympians.
— Phil Stacey
Shalane Flanagan
Age: 27
Hometown: Marblehead (now lives in Pittsboro, N.C.)
Sport: Track and field
Events: 5,000 and 10,000 meter races
The skinny: The American record holder in both of the events she'll be running in Beijing, Flanagan should be considered among the potential medalists in the 10,000 meter race, which will be run a week from today. The former Marblehead High and University of North Carolina star — who is writing a blog for The Salem News during this, her second Olympics — faces an extremely talented field in her favorite event, the 5,000, during the second week of the Games.
Tim Wadlow
Age: 34
Hometown: Beverly (originally from San Diego)
Sport: Sailing
Event: 49er Class
The skinny: Wadlow, a Boston University graduate who moved to Beverly after competing in the 2004 Summer Games, is the skipper in a two-man crew that includes Chris Rast. After finishing in fifth place in his class four years ago, Wadlow is hoping for a medal finish this time around. He and Rast finished fifth in the 49er World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, earlier this year. He, too, has been blogging about his Olympic experience; you can follow Wadlow's daily thoughts at http://www.wadlowrast.com.
Corrie Lothrop
Age: 16
Hometown: Danvers
Sport: Gymnastics
The skinny: After a terrific showing at the Olympic Selection Camp in Houston last month — where she was one of just 10 gymnasts chosen to attend — Lothrop was picked as one of three alternates for the U.S. gymnastics team. The Chinese government, however, will not issue visas to alternates, meaning they cannot accompany their teams to Beijing or train with them. Lothrop and her parents, Don and Joan, will be traveling to Wuhan, China (Corrie's birthplace) to sightsee and, if needed, be ready if a replacement is needed for the American squad.
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