By Veronique Bury FIG Editor.

With the memory of the Hamm brothers at the Athens Olympic Games still fresh in our minds, gymnastic events of the Beijing Games will enjoy yet another family saga with the participation of Diego and Daniele Hypolito.

Although at the age of 23, big sister Daniele competed in the Athens Olympic Games where she finished 12th in the all-around, this is a premier Olympic appearance for 22 year old Diego, who secured his Olympic qualification for Beijing last September with a second world title on floor, after a first in 2005.

In Brazil, the brother and sister legend is known and admired by ordinary folk everywhere, down to the local taxi driver who can list every detail of their careers. On a side note, the Hypolitos were the first gymnasts ever (men’s and women's) to win a world medal for their country (Daniele becoming vice champion on floor in 2001, and Diego world champion on floor in 2005), but what really launched their popularity after their international debut was an old television feature story uncovered by the sport network Sport TV, in which we get a look at the duo earlier on in their careers.

Daniele was 12 years old and had just become Brazil's national champion. A journalist approached the gymnast’s younger brother and asked, 'Why do you continually praise your big sister?' Little Diego had his answer in a flash, 'Because you just said I look like her!'

The anecdote, which epitomises the two gymnasts to a T, brings a smile to both. Spontaneous, good-natured and jovial are three words that describe these passionate Brazilian gymnasts.