Dating back from as far as 1900, we bring you the list of the athletes we either know about or remember.

How many others do you know about or remember? Let us know in the comments section below.

Ben Ainslie

Silver in 1996, gold in 2000, gold in 2004, gold in 2008, gold in 2012

 

He’s Britain’s most successful sailing Olympian ever with four gold medals around his neck.

Ben Ainslie, who went to Peter Symonds Sixth form in Winchester and lived in Lymington for a large part of his sailing career, won his first Olympic gold at Sydney 2000 in the Laser sailing class.

Ainslie put down an Olympic marker in 1996 in Atlanta and went on to better it four years later in Australia.

He repeated the trick in 2004 in Athens, this time in the larger Finn class. He then went on to get gold in the same class in 2008 in Beijing and London in 2012.

On May 19, 2012, he was the first of 8,000 Olympic torch carriers when he began the 70-day journey through the UK from Land’s End.

The sailing superstar was knighted on March 7, 2013, by Princess Anne at Buckingham Palace and was awarded the freedom of Lymington later in the year in recognition of his outstanding achievements.

Ainslie won 11 golds and four bronze medals in the World Championships during his career and was awarded the title of British Yachtsman of the year on seven occasions.

He now lives on the Isle of Wight with his wife, Sky Sports presenter Georgie Thompson, and their daughter Bellatrix.

Kriss Akabusi

Silver in 1984, 2x bronze in 1992

 

Known not only for his sporting talent but also for his infectious laugh, Kriss Akabusi certainly brightened up the south coast during his years here.

Akabusi, a former army PT instructor, moved to Locks Heath in the early 1980s to train with Southampton & Eastleigh AC, but after coach Mike Smith branched off to form Team Solent Akabusi followed.

In 1983, he began his international athletics career as a member of the 4x400 metre relay squad.

Just one year later he won silver in the Los Angeles Olympic Games.

His greatest individual sporting triumph was his Gold Medal in the 1990 European Championships, when he beat David Hemery's 22-year-old British record, becoming known as the one lap hurdle king.

However, Akabusi is best remembered for helping Britain clinch the Gold and beat the Americans in the World Championship 4x400 metre relay in Tokyo in 1991.

In 1992 Akabusi took home two bronze medals in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics; one for the 400-metre hurdles and the other for the 4x400 metre relay.

Born in London to Nigerian parents and brought up in a children's home, he didn't have the greatest start in life.

He went from the home straight into the Army at 16, swapping one institution for another.

But after a fantastic career in athletics, Akabusi went on to become a TV presenter with a stint on the Big Breakfast quickly followed by a full-time position as co-host of BBC's Record Breakers.

Having been awarded an MBE for service to athletics and an honorary degree from Southampton University Akabusi now has his own corporate communications and training company where his marvellous personality and reputation as a fantastic public speaker has made him a very popular advocate.

Charles Bennett

Gold in 1900, silver in 1900

 

Charles Bennett was the first British track and field athlete to become Olympic champion when he won the 1500 metres at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris.

He also took home a gold in the 5000-meter steeplechase and a silver in the 4000-metre steeplechase.

Bennett, who worked as a train driver in Shapwick, Dorset, lived in Bournemouth - a part of Hampshire at that time.

Todd Bennett

Silver in 1984

 

Southampton-born athlete Todd Bennett won the 400m title at the European Junior Championships in 1981 and competed for Great Britain in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, winning a silver medal in the 4 x 400m relay.

Bennett was European Indoor Champion over 400m in both 1985 and 1987, and also won a silver at the World Indoor Championships in 1985.

The same year, he became the World indoor record holder for 400m in 45.46 seconds. Bennett competed in three Commonwealth Games, winning gold in the 4 x 400m relay in 1982. He was runner-up in the 200m four years later.

On retiring from competitive action, he was involved with the Great Britain Junior athletics team and for four years was their team manager.

He lost his battle with cancer in July 2013.

Roger Black

Bronze in 1992, 2x silver in 1996

 

Portsmouth-born Olympic medallist Roger Black enjoyed winning a number of titles throughout his successful athletics career, as a member of Team Solent.

Coached by Southampton's very own Mike Smith, Black picked up honours such as Olympic silver in both the 400m and 4x400 relay at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games as well as being crowned World Champion in Tokyo in 1991 with the 4x400m relay team.

In 1996 Black set a new national 400m record of 44.37 seconds only to be broken a year later by fellow teammate Iwan Thomas.

Having studied during his younger years at Portsmouth Grammar School Black went on to Southampton University to read medicine.

1995 was also a good year for Black with him being awarded an MBE and an honorary degree from Southampton University.

Despite being born in Portsmouth, one of Black's joys in life is supporting Southampton Football Club.

He first went to The Dell as a nine-year-old with a friend of his father's and has been hooked ever since.

Since hanging up his running shoes Black has made a name for himself as a television presenter working on shows such as Tomorrow's World, Question of Sport and Grandstand.

Tommy Green

Gold in 1932

British racewalker Tommy Green won a gold medal in the men’s 50 km walk at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Green was born in Fareham and couldn’t walk until the age of five due to rickets.

He left school when he was 12 and worked as a butcher’s assistant before lying about his age to join the army in 1906.

He was medically discharged in 1910 after a horse fell on him, but was called up for service in the First World War.

Green settled in Eastleigh where he worked at the railway works.

He died on March 29, 1975, in Eastleigh.

Percy Hodge

Gold in 1920

 

British Athlete Percy Hodge had a great time at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp when he took home a gold in the 3000-metre steeplechase.

He also ran in the heats of the 3000-metre team event in which Great Britain won a silver medal.

Hodge lived in Bournemouth for a large part of his life.

• Keep an eye out for part 2 tomorrow on dailyecho.co.uk .