Section Table of Contents

SOME ATHLETES WOW US WITH THEIR SHEER PHYSICAL BRILLIANCE, OTHERS THROUGH DISPLAYS OF COURAGE, POISE AND PASSION, OR BY THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PUSH LIMITS, BREAK BARRIERS AND HOIST FANS' HOPES ON THEIR SHOULDERS. SI CELEBRATES THOSE SPECIAL STARS—THE INSPIRING PERFORMERS WHO MADE 2012 A SPORTS YEAR TO REMEMBER

Inspiration Nation

Eli Manning

p. 36

Jeremy Lin

p. 48

U.S. Women Olympians

p. 58

R.A. Dickey and Kayla Harrison

p. 66

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

Illustration by DARROW

ERICK W. RASCO (TROPHIES)