UK women set to watch Olympics for talent of a different kind

The 2008 Olympics are just around the corner and for the sport enthusiasts amongst us it couldn’t have come any quicker. All hoping to grab a gold medal, the world’s most talented athletes will be showcasing their many talents and not just the sporting kind!

Besides the sport, the Olympics will be serving up a feast of testosterone clad in Lycra. There’s nothing more attractive than a ‘fit’ man according to the massive 58% of women polled by iVillage.co.uk who said they would be watching the Olympics for the totty. They certainly won’t be disappointed, as there will be a whole host of gorgeous Olympic hunks to indulge in for four weeks this summer. And, thanks to the 42 different sports to be showcased, athletes will be coming in all shapes and sizes.

Whether it is the supple swimmer's physique that gets you hot under the collar or the mammoth shot putter with his boulder-shoulders and Neanderthal grunts, you can be sure that they’ll be someone to get your pulse racing. Here are iVillage.co.uk’s top 10 to look out for (and you can even see the hunks in the iVillage.co.uk gallery on ivillage.co.uk/olympics) –

1. From Down Under – the Australian swim team - Andrew Lauterstein, Matt Welsh, Brenton Rickard and Eamon 'Sullo' Sullivan who's motto is: 'Pain is temporary, glory is forever'. These boys definitely take their sport seriously!

2. Row, row, row your boat - Back in 2004 the men's coxless four brought a gold home for Britain. The team may have lost Matthew Pinsent, Ed Coode and James Cracknell, but the rather lovely Steve Williams remains.

3. American Idol - Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner is looking to break Michael Johnson's long-standing 400m record in Beijing. He's focused, fit and very easy on the eye.

4. Britain's top model - The 50m freestyle world record holder maybe the oldest member of the swimming team at 36, but he's still hot. We love you Mark Foster!

5. Jump for your love - A born and bred Londoner, Phillips Idowu is a statuesque 1.92 metres. He is one of the more flamboyant competitors, keen on sporting a variety of hair colours and facial piercings.

6. Swim star - The lovely 22-year-old Liam Tancock shattered the global mark for 50 metres backstroke at the British Olympic Trials to become the first British man in history to hold a world backstroke record.

7. Breast man - Italy's Alessandro Terrin. He's not just a pretty face, he's the former 50 metre breaststroke world record holder, so expect to see him in the medals.

8. Boxing beauty - Khalid Yafai is definitely one to watch. He doesn't drink or smoke and the former under-17 world champion doesn't take his boxing lightly. Speaking about the Beijing Olympics, he said: 'I'm going there for a medal, not a holiday.'

9. Diving diva - Dive champ David Boudia claimed three gold medals at the Speedo U.S. Open Championships. He is very much the 'all Amercian boy', but with more flexibility and a head for heights.

10. Hurdle hero - While not classically good looking, Liu Xiang certainly has something about him. His coach may have initially described his technique as 'terrible', but he went on to become world champion in the 2007 110m hurdles and he is the current Olympic gold medal holder.

For more information on the Olympics visit ivillage.co.uk/olympics. You’ll find an exclusive interview with Dame Kelly Holmes, information on all of the British team, how to achieve an Olympic athlete’s physique, and also an in-depth city guide on Beijing.