The 2012 Olympic Games are just around the corner and we’ve already got our eyes on some familiar faces: Allyson Felix, Veronica Campbell, and Tyson Grey. But there are Black athlete’s making history and headlines that haven’t quite reached celebrity status. These Black athletes—some of which are veterans to the game, others are making their first appearance to the grand stage—may not make the daily ESPN headlines, but they’re solidifying their names in the history books.

—Malaika Nicholas