Trey Hardee

While most sports fans associate Tommy John surgery with baseball pitchers, Hardee underwent that same reconstructive elbow procedure in September after hearing a pop during a career-best javelin throw at the World Games. Yet Hardee not only finished that competition - running the 1,500 meters in a time that, by his standards, was sub-par - but won his second world championship. He recovered in time to take part in the U.S. Olympic trials in late June, turning a timetable that usually requires pitchers to miss a year on its head. Hardee then went out and made the hard work count, finishing second behind Ashton Eaton to earn a spot in London. He beat out reigning Olympic champion Bryan Clay for that second berth, but still figures to have his hands full as he tries for gold considering Eaton set a world record at the trials. Hardee was in fourth place in the decathlon at the Beijing Games but dropped out following no mark in the pole vault. Someone was still impressed, though - Hardee fielded inquiries to try out for the New York Jets by saying “I guess I am the mold for what they’re looking for - tall, fast and I can catch a ball.”