Ye Shiwen

Sport: Swimming

This 16 year-old girl shot to fame during the London Olympic Games, not only for her spectacular performances in the women's 200m and 400m individual medleys, but unfortunately also for the doping suspicions surrounding her-despite the fact that she tested negative.

Ye Shiwen was born on March 1, 1996, and joined the national swimming team at the age of 12.

In 2010, at the FINA Swimming World Cup (Beijing Leg), she won three gold medals: The 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley and 100m freestyle.

On July 28 and 31 of this year, she became Olympic champion in both the 400m and 200m individual medleys and simultaneously broke two Olympic records with 4:28.43 and 2:07.57, respectively.

The teenager is among the leading contenders up for nomination for the 2013 Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award.