With the Olympic Games finally upon us, many spectators are focused on living legends like Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar, Jamaica's record-holding sprinter Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps, the American swimmer who's won more Olympic hardware than any athlete in history.

And that's just to name a few. The mega-event certainly doesn't lack star power. But the Games also feature plenty of compelling competitors who aren't household names — at least not beyond the borders of their home nations. Each comes to Brazil with his or her own goals and incredible life stories. And all of them carry the hopes of their respective countries on their shoulders. Here are five of those athletes.

Dutee Chand, India (sprinter)

This 20-year-old speed demon will be India's first Olympic sprinter since 1980. She will compete in the women's 100-meter event, starting Aug. 12, when she'll try to beat her personal best of 11.24 seconds — an Indian record. Two years ago she was banned from the sport due to hyperandrogenism, a condition that causes the body to produce excess testosterone. She appealed the ban and in July 2015 was cleared to compete again. "There are five members in my family. My parents used to struggle to put food on our plates," Chand explained in a recent interview with The Times of India. "It was also difficult to train. I didn't have shoes, so was forced to run barefoot."