The lungs burning, the mind screaming, and the sensation of riding above the clouds contribute to an Olympian's journey. The blood, sweat, tears (and chalk of course) are far fetched from at the games. Each moment is a thousand times more vibrant, more immense, and above all, more epic!

Every Olympics, a few athletes are viewed especially for their powers in foiling their impossible past obstacles and defeating the odds. The following Olympians should be recognized with a sense of pride regardless of your national stance.

1. Guor Marial- Marathon Runner

Guor Marial lost eight of his siblings and was separated from his parents for almost twenty years during the Sudanese civil war. During the war, he was forced to work for Sudanese soldiers under low wages under immense pressures. After plenty painful years, he reunited with his uncle during his refuge to Egypt, where he moved to the United States and was noticed for his Olympian talents.

As an immigrant, no country's Olympic trial was open to him even after maintaining the qualifying time. Finally, the IOC enabled him to compete in the 2012 London games. Marial placed 47th in the running marathon and continues his expedition to snatch the gleaming prize.

2. Kieran Behan- Men's Gymnastics

Trauma after trauma after trauma...

Behan was confined to a wheelchair after having a benign tumor cleared from his leg, yet he made the recovery. Once again, he suffered a head injury and sustained it. Two years later, he was once again bound to the wheelchair, yet made another recovery. Then, Behan fractured the right cruciate ligament and injured his left again, yet our Superman healed.

Being only the second Irish gymnast to do so, Behan competed in the London Games and placed 38th.