In preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, we're profiling 20 of the top medal contenders.
The Olympics have touched Roger Federer’s life on a profound level. He began his relationship with future wife Mirka when both young players represented Switzerland in the 2000 Sydney Games, carried the Swiss flag at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and struck gold in doubles with Stanislas Wawrinka at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Fresh off his record-equaling seventh Wimbledon title and record-extending 17th career major, Federer will return to the All England Club’s lawns playing for the one significant championship that has eluded him: The singles gold medal.
“The Olympic gold is the dream for me,” Federer said. “It's amazing to me that this is already my fourth Olympics. Always something special has happened at every Olympic Games I've taken part in. You name it, there were a lot of things that I was able to take away from the Olympic Games. I hope it's going to be something similar this time.”
Previous Olympic Singles Results
Sydney, 2000: Lost in semifinals to Tommy Haas, and in bronze-medal match to Arnaud Di Pasquale
Athens, 2004: Lost in second round to Tomas Berdych
Beijing, 2008: Lost in quarterfinals to James Blake
Previous Olympic Doubles Results
Athens, 2004: Lost in second round with Yves Allegro to Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes
Beijing, 2008: Won in gold-medal match with Stanislas Wawrinka against Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson
More Olympic Profiles:
—Agnieszka Radwanska
—Ana Ivanovic
—Andy Murray
—Andy Roddick
—Angelique Kerber
—Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
—John Isner
—Juan Martin del Potro
—Kei Nishikori
—Kim Clijsters
—Li Na
—Maria Sharapova
—Milos Raonic
—Novak Djokovic
—Petra Kvitova
—Roger Federer
—Serena Williams
—Tomas Berdych
—Venus Williams
—Victoria Azarenka