They are the Usain Bolts of trampoline gymnastics, the Michael Phelps of BMX, the Yelena Isinbaevas of handball. They are superstars of their sports, adored by their followers. But the chances are that, unless you are an aficionado of that sport, you have not heard of them. We present eight Olympic champions you should look out for at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

BMX  cycling - Maris Strombergs (Latvia)
Nicknamed ‘the Machine’, Strombergs was apparently voted Latvia’s second sexiest man in 2011, but his real success has come at the Olympic Games. He pedalled, jumped and skidded his way to the gold medal on BMX’s Olympic debut at Beijing 2008, then again at London 2012. The only Latvian to have won two Olympic titles, Strombergs has also won two world titles. 

Maris Strombergs jumps during the BMX event in London 2012 (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)

Handball - Nikola Karabatic (France) 
Handball runs in the Karabatic family. Nikola, or Neo, as he’s known, is the son of the former Yugoslav team goalkeeper; and his younger brother, Luka, also plays the sport professionally.  Voted by the International Handball Federation as the best player of the year in 2007 and 2014, Karabatic will seek to add to his tally of two gold medals for France in Beijing 2008 and London 2012. 

France's Nikola Karabatic competing in the men's handball at London 2012 (Photo: Jeff Goss/Getty Images)

Trampoline gymnastics - Rosie MacLennan (Canada) 
The youngest of four trampolining siblings from a gymnastics-mad family, MacLennan bounced her way to the women’s individual title at London 2012, securing Canada’s only gold medal at those Games. She also won the individual title at the 2013 world championships, taking silver the following year, and has a total of 12 world championship medals across the individual, team and synchronised events.

Canadian Rosie Maclennan snapped in mid-air during the trampoline gymnastics competition in London 2012 (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Shooting - Rajmond Debevec (Slovenia) 
He may look more like an affable science teacher from your school days, but Debevec is one of the world’s sharpest shooters in the 50m rifle events. The Slovenian is also one of the sport’s true veterans – his first Olympic Games were in Los Angeles in 1984, and he has won three medals (gold at Sydney 2000 and bronzes at Beijing 2008 and London 2012). At Barcelona 1992, he set a world record that lasted 20 years, and he hopes to compete in his ninth Games in Rio.

Rajmond Debevec, from Slovenia, shoots da Eslovênia, in the finals of the 50m rifle event in London 2012 (Photo: Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Table tennis - Zhang Jike (China)
With his two victories in London 2012, in both the singles and the men’s team event, Jike broke new ground in the history of table tennis - becoming the first reigning champion at the Olympics, the World Championships and the World Cup simultaneously. Jike will be looking to perform in Brazil – his father named him after one of the South American country’s greatest sporting stars, the footballer Zico.

Zhang Jike, from China, takes on Saehyuk Joo, from South Korea, in the Men's Team finals in London 2012 (Photo: Feng Li/Getty Images)

Canoe Slalom - Daniele Molmenti (Italy)
Olympic Champion in London 2012, Molmenti started canoeing at the age of 11, turning professional in 2007. Over the course of his career he has won six medals in World Championships (two golds, two silvers and two bronzes) and is currently European champion.

Italian Daniele Molmenti competes in the individual semi-final of the canoe slalom in London 2012. (Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Weightlifting - Zhou Lulu (China)
World Champion in 2011, Lulu took the Olympic Gold in London 2012 in the women’s +75kg category by lifting 333kg, breaking a world record in the process. Lulu has already announced her plans to retire after Rio 2016, where she aims to go out on a high by breaking her own record.

Lulu Zhou, from China, competes in the +75kg category in London 2012 (Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Greco-Roman wrestling - Mijaín López (Cuba)
Known ironically as ‘The Kid’, on account of his considerable 6ft 5in height, López is the current Olympic Champion in the 120kg category, and won his fifth world title in 2014. The flagbearer for Cuba at both Beijing 2008 and London 2012,López is targeting his third Olympic Gold in Rio 2016.

Mijain López celebrates his vicotry over Heiki Nabi, from Estonia, in the final of the Greco-Roman wrestling in London 2012 (Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)