GYMNASTICS — University of Utah gymnast Daria Bijak will carry a share of Germany's hopes in artistic gymnastics. Her eighth-place individual all-around finish at the 2005 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, was the highest finish for a German woman in nearly two decades.

FOOTBALL — Yes, you read right, but no, it's not the sport you think. Soccer is another sport with a different international name, billed as "football" at the Summer Games.

With younger players tabbed to represent the United States in the Olympics, goalkeeper Chris Seitz is the only member of Real Salt Lake to earn an invite to the U.S team.

VOLLEYBALL — Former BYU standout and one-time Cougar coach Ryan Millar returns in the middle for the United States for his third Olympics. He'll be joined by former BYU teammate Rich Lambourne, who moved from outside hitter in college to libero on the national team and is making his inaugural Games trip.

Millar and Lambourne starred on BYU's first NCAA championship team in 1999. Also part of Team USA in Beijing are three staff members from that Cougar squad — former assistant Hugh McCutcheon leads the U.S. as head coach, ex-head coach Carl McGown is a U.S. scout, and former volunteer assistant Rob Browning serves as the U.S. team leader.

Another player with BYU ties will play in Beijing. Joel Silva, a libero who is halfway through his collegiate career with the Cougars, is part of an upstart Venezuela team that qualified for the Olympics by winning the South America Zone tournament.

After three years on the professional beach volleyball circuit while squeezing in some indoor pro volleyball, former Highland High star Logan Tom returns to the national team for her third Olympics.

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