Women’s Olympic Triathlon: 20 Faces To Know

The pressure will be on Great Britain's Helen Jenkins as she races in front of her home crowd. While she told us earlier she was happy to have most of the media attention on the Brownlee brothers, that won't be the case come Saturday. Jenkins won the Olympic test event in 2011 and there's no reason to believe she can't take the top spot again. Photo: Janos Schmidt/Triathlon.org

If you called Erin Densham an Olympic favorite a year ago, you'd likely get a lot of puzzled reaction. That is not the case today. Densham is coming on at the right time and has won several big races in 2012, including the final ITU WTS Olympic warm-up event in Hamburg. Her story is one of triumph and a comeback, as she endured a brutal heart surgery in 2009 and multiple injuries and illnesses. Photo: Delly Carr/Triathlon.org

New Zealand's Andrea Hewitt is one of the favorites to take a podium spot on Saturday. She can run with everyone else on this list and she's proven when she's in peak form she's tough to beat. Photo: Delly Carr/Triathlon.org

American Gwen Jorgensen is still relatively new to the sport, but she's proved to be a fast learner. Jorgensen secured her Olympic spot with a second-place finish at the London test event in August of 2011. She's had a year to improve on her bike since then and could give the United States its first Olympic medal in triathlon since Susan Williams took the bronze in 2004. Photo: Janos Schmidt/Triathlon.org

Nicola Spirig is one of the best female triathletes in the world and has had success in both the drafting and non-drafting format. She has one of the best finishing kicks of the women and if it comes down to a sprint finish she may be tough to beat. Photo: Delly Carr/Triathlon.org

Emma Moffatt earned bronze in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and had stellar success following the games, including world championships in 2009 and 2010. Since then she's showed glimpses of that greatness, but has not been has consistent. She could be peaking at the right time, as shown by a second-place finish at the ITU WTS Hamburg race a couple of weeks ago. Photo: Delly Carr/Triathlon.org

Unlike Densham, you would not get a lot of surprised looks if you called Canada's Paula Findlay the Olympic favorite a year ago. She kicked off 2011 in an unstoppable fashion, winning every race she entered. Things have changed since then and the Canadian has struggled with injury. She will compete with a hip injury that will eventually need surgery, but if she can keep the pain away she may take the gold. Photo: Delly Carr/Triathlon.org

Sweden's Lisa Norden has battled injuries on and off over the past few years, but she's proven she can perform under the pressure. She took the victory at the 2011 Hy-Vee 5150 U.S. Championship (a non-drafting event) against a tough field. Photo: Janos Schmidt/Triathlon.org

Sarah Groff had a breakthrough season last year when she became the first American woman to get on the podium of a World Triathlon Series event. She is capable of winning a medal, and if she does, her vivacious personality will make her a media darling. Photo: Delly Carr/Triathlon.org

American Laura Bennett is the oldest women in the competition at age 37, but that doesn't mean she's not a top contender. She raced her way onto the U.S. team in San Diego in May, finishing third against a tough field. She has proven she can perform in the biggest races, and will look to improve on her fourth-place finish from Beijing. Photo: Delly Carr/Triathlon.org

Riveros’ superb sprinting speed will play into her favor as she heads into London, but she does often miss the first swim pack, which could put her out of medal contention if the sport’s swim-bikers decide to press at the front. Photo: Rich Cruse/Triathlon.org

Great Britain's Vicky Holland has gone somewhat under the radar with British teammates Helen Jenkins, Alistair Brownlee and Jonathan Brownlee grabbing the spotlight. She's a fast swimmer and is capable of posting a top finish. Photo: Delly Carr/Triathlon.org

Anne Haug of Germany will look to mix it up on the run. Photo: Eyes Wide Open/Triathlon.org

France's Jessica Harrison is one of the stronger swimmers in the event and could earn a top spot if she can be a part of a breakaway out of the swim. Photo: Arnold Lim/Triathlon.org

South Africa's Kate Roberts has been competing in triathlon since she was 17 and will look to use that experience to earn a top spot. Photo: Thierry Deketelaere/Triathlon.org

“It’s funny, the women’s race seems at the moment there is probably 25 girls that could win it on the day,” Kate McIlroy told Triathlon.org. “There is no obvious Brownlee in our field, I think it’s just going to be who has the freshest legs off the bike, and honestly, it’s a massive mixed bag, I just don’t know.” Photo: Delly Carr/Triathlon.org

Australia's Emma Jackson will carry a little extra pressure with her on race day. She was chosen to make the Australian Olympic team over reigning Olympic gold medalist Emma Snowsill. She has what it takes to earn a top finish, as shown by her 2012 U23 World Championship. Photo: Delly Carr/Triathlon.org

The triathlon events at the Olympic Games have always produced surprise medalists, and Anja Dittmer could fill that role. The German can run with the best and will look to have a strong day in London. Photo: Delly Carr/Triathlon.org

Photo: Jun Sato/Triathlon.org

Japan's Ai Ueda is often in the mix in ITU World Triathlon Series races. Photo: Delly Carr/Triathlon.org