Bryshon Nellum

Nellum was named the Gatorade track & field athlete of the year in 2007 while in high school, and he headed to USC with lofty expectations that were nearly ruined forever on Halloween 2008. Coming back from a party near the USC campus, Nellum was the victim of a drive-by shooting, getting hit by a shotgun once in each thigh and in his right hamstring. Though he was told he'd be able to walk again, doctors said he'd never be able to again reach the world-class speeds he'd threatened while in high school. But after numerous surgeries and some intense rehab, Nellum made it back in May 2010 to compete with the Trojans. Two years later, he seemed to show that he was fully recovered. Nellum ran a personal record 44.80 in the 400 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials, finishing third behind LaShawn Merritt and Tony McQuay to earn the final spot on the Olympic team. He narrowly edged out USC teammate Josh Mance for that last slot, but there certainly aren't any hard feelings between the two. Mance called Nellum "the best story, the most inspirational" of everyone at the U.S. trials, and with a shot to wind up with a medal in London less than four years after the most frightening event of his life, it's difficult to disagree.