In no particular order:
Daniel Purvis, Great Britain. He's spent a good part of his career in the shadows of Daniel Keatings and Louis Smith, but 2011 was Purvis's breakout year: he won the Glasgow World Cup, tied for third overall at the European Championships and became World Cup all-around champion on the strength of continual solid performances. Look out for him in the all-around and on floor in London.
Kohei Uchimura, Japan. At what point does Kohei Uchimura surpass all others as the greatest gymnast who ever lived? I'd say if he manages to win the men's all-around gold in London. Uchimura just turned 23, but he has won the past three consecutive world titles, and it would be the biggest shock of the Olympics were he not to crown it all with gold in London. In addition, he's simply beautiful to watch -- part of what's special about him is the ease and grace with which he does all his skills. The sport is very, very lucky to have him.
Mykola Kuksenkov, Ukraine. Multi-lingual, multi-talented Kuksenkov is the best on a rising Ukrainian team. He's always a face in the crowd among the best at big competitions, and if healthy will definitely be a medal threat in London.
Danell Leyva, USA. This young talent from Miami has matured greatly during the past year, winning his first senior National title and adding another gold on parallel bars at the World Championships. Make no mistake, though -- Leyva is an all-around gymnast, and that's the prize he wants most.
Yusuke Tanaka, Japan. Concussion aside, the youngest of the Tanaka gymnastics family had a fabulous first day at the World Championships, qualifying in top position to the high bar final. We can't wait to see more.
Sam Mikulak, USA. Two fractured ankles kept him from challenging for a place on the world team in 2011, but the Californian, who now trains at the University of Michigan, will not be denied forever. Mikulak matches Jake Dalton's difficulty on floor and vault and has slightly better pommels. He could very well make the Olympic team.
Tomas Gonzalez, Chile. Perhaps the best gymnast in South America at the moment, Gonzalez should easily qualify to the Olympics at the London Test Event. Once there, he'll have a good shot at making floor, vault and possibly the all-around finals.
Oleg Stepko, Ukraine. Said it last year, still saying it this year: Young Stepko is the future of Ukrainian gymnastics and maybe the future of men's gymnastics in general. He's powerful, elegant and improved a lot last year. He could sneak in and be part of the all-around mix in London as well.
Daniel Keatings, Great Britain. Keatings's skills returned quickly after suffered a torn ACL in May 2010. Consistency has taken more time to come back. Still, with the Olympic Games in his home country and more time to refine, expect the 2009 World all-around silver medalist to come out strong this year.
Matthias Fahrig, Germany. The most energetic, crowd-loving competitor at most meets, Fahrig, 26, is still the kid who does backflips while waiting in line to use the equipment. His enthusiasm when he does well is magnetic, but will he be one of the five to make the cut for the German team?
Philipp Boy, Germany. The double World all-around silver medalist has perhaps the best shot at challenging Uchimura in London. His exuberance, athleticism and huge smiles will make him a crowd favorite as well.
Chen Yibing, China. Bow down to the Lord of the Rings -- Yibing, who won his first world rings title in 2006, has done perfect routines at the past two World Championships and walked away with gold both times. When is the last time one athlete has been as dominant on one event as he has? Bonus: when he does a particularly good routine, he's been known to kiss the rings tower before leaving the podium.
Emin Garabov, Russia. An artistic young man with a talent for pommel horse and high bar, he gives the powerhouse Russian team a different look.
David Belyavskiy, Russia. The gymnastics opposite of Garabov, Belyavskiy is all power and big tricks (though he does do some real choreography in one place in his floor routine). He finished sixth all-around in Tokyo, something he could improve on in London.
Sam Oldham, Great Britain. I fully expect Oldham and Stepko to duke it out for a major title one of these days. Younger men (including Oldham, John Orozco, Jossimar Calvo, etc.) have proven that they can equal the performances of more mature guys these days. If healthy, Oldham could be among the best in London.
John Orozco, USA. This supertalented young star wasn't slowed much by a torn Achilles in 2010. He's come back better than ever, and proved it by notching the highest U.S. finish in the all-around (fifth) at Worlds.
Jossimar Calvo, Colombia. The surprise Pan American Games champion, just 17, has several big and cool skills, including a 3.5 twist on floor and a full twisting double tuck dismount off the end of the parallel bars.
Marcel Nguyen, Germany. Rick McCharles said in Tokyo that he thought Nguyen was no. 2 in the world in terms of raw talent (after Uchimura, of course). But this young German tilts more toward difficulty than finesse, which can give his routines a raw, edgy feel.
Epke Zonderland, Netherlands. The flying Dutchman has the potential to win medals on parallel bars and high bar in London. Zonderland's should be one of the more compelling stories of the Olympic Games -- he's been so close to a World title on high bar so many times, but it has always eluded him. Bonus: he has the best hair in gymnastics.
Daniel Corral, Mexico. One of the best in the world on pommel horse and parallel bars, he should be recognized as such more after this year.
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