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Runners will conclude the summer Olympics marathon event at the Panathaniako Stadium in Athens. (Michael Madrid, USA TODAY)

No. 10. Marathon

You know the legend. When the Greeks defeated the Persians in the battle of Marathon in 490 B.C., a runner named Phidippides was dispatched to carry the news to Athens. He ran 26 miles, delivered the news, then collapsed and died.

Some fuddy-duddy historians now question details of the legend. But no matter. The competitors in these games - the women on one Sunday, the men on the next - will start near the battle site and end in Athens, following Phidippides' supposed route.

Two things are likely - none of them will die and the winner in the men's race will be from Africa.

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Or choose from the list:

• 1 | Michael Phelps - Swimmer
• 2 | The shot put
• 3 | Men's basketball
• 4 | Marion Jones - Track and field
• 5 | Gymnastics
• 6 | Rulon Gardner - Wrestler
• 7 | The 100-meter dash
• 8 | Softball
• 9 | Women's soccer
• 10 | Marathon

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