Norway: Footballer John Arne Semundseth Riise

John Arne Semundseth Riise is a retired Norwegian professional footballer who played as a left back. With 110 caps, he is the most capped player for the Norwegian National Team.

He was born on September 24, 1980 in Molde, Norway, and as a youth was found to be with some great talent.  He began his pro career with Aalesunds FK, at 16 entering on a Senior career.  At age 18 he began to play for Monaco, and went on to play for Roma and Liverpool. 

He left the national team in 2013, and although he signed with Aalesunds again in 2016, he retired almost immediately 

His brother, Bjørn Helge Riise is also a well known player.  For his brief time back in Aalesunds, he and his brother both played on the same team.

France: Valentin Lavillenie, Pole Vault

Valentin Lavillenie is a French athlete specialising in the pole vault. He won the gold medal at the 2013 Jeux de la Francophonie. He took 2014 off from competition, a buffer year between youth competition.  In 2015 he has competed at the elite level in several meets, along with his brother. 

He is the younger brother of another pole vaulter, world record holder Renaud Lavillenie.  He has personal bests of 5.65 metres outdoors (2013) and 5.80 metres indoors at Nevers (2015).

His face is wonderfully expressive.  Many photos of him, much more than the mean for an athlete, picture him pouting or enraged at a result.  Makes for great pictures...  

He is a great fan of the AS Monaco Soccer club.