Bradley Wiggins, the most successful British Olympian in history, has made growing sideburns a revival sport as well. The cyclist who earlier this summer was the first Briton to win the Tour de France has also become famous for his prominent set of ginger sideburns, starting a growing frenzy among men in the UK that hasn’t been seen since the 70s. Magazines and newspapers have been offering advice to men ranging from whisker transplant options to paper cut-out and stick-on versions, but I think we prefer the traditional method here at SYS.com.

Get the look:

• Allow the beard to grow for several days to gain some length and fullness.
• Using the edge of the trimmer, create a line from the tip of the earlobe to the corner of the mouth by pressing the blades to the skin.
• Trim or shave away all the facial hair (cheeks, mouth, neck) below the line, leaving everything above the line to form the ‘burns’.
• Remove any stray hairs above the cheek line to create the desired shape.
• Trim or clipper the remaining whisker hair to a suitable length, and use the edge of the trimmer to remove hairs around the ears.

Louis Smith led the British men’s gymnastic team to its first medal in the sport since the games in Stockholm exactly 100 years ago. Hailing a new era for the sport in the UK, 23-year old Smith was recently quoted saying, ‘I have to put on a performance so my appearance is crucial’. He obviously practices what he preaches, sporting what is probably the ‘meanest’ goatee and chippered sides to ever mount the pommel horse.

Get the look:

• Grow beard into a 3-day stubble.
• Shaving down from the cheeks, create a thin line running around the corner of the mouth straight down to the chin.
• Remove all the whiskers on the cheeks, neck and under the chin.
• Carefully manipulating the blade, remove any hair above the moustache (under the nose) to form a straight line across the top to meet the edges of the goatee around the mouth.
• Under each side of the lower lip, shave down toward the chin and remove all hair, leaving thin lines that join the moustache and soul patch to the chin. 

American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Love has had a reputation over the last few seasons for wearing various beard shapes and styles for ‘luck’ on the court. Most shocking was earlier this year when he completely shaved his beard off and was taunted by his teammates for ‘looking like a 12 year old’. Having been plagued by injury this year, Love obviously decided not to risk his (or his national team’s) luck at the Olympics and returned to his former self. 

Get the look:

• Let the beard grow about four weeks to get the length. 
• Trim it with the longest setting on your clipper. 
• Remove the hairs that over the lips and around the mouth.
• Shave the cheek line above the beard to make the beard look tighter. 
• Let the neck grow to keep the look a little rugged.

With a record five world championship titles, Teddy Riner is judo's biggest star. He also received gold-medal accolades for his style, particularly his intricately shaved sides and contoured beard lines, courtesy of an onsite barber at the Olympic village. This style is great for guys with rounded faces that want some chiseled definition.

Get the look:

• Shave the cheeks out with a razor, being mindful of the lines contouring along the jawline.
• Shave under the jaw to remove all neck hair.
• Shape around the mouth and down towards the chin.
• Remove stray whiskers under the nose and form a straight line across the moustache.
• To get the lines really crisp and sharp, use the fine trimmer to outline the goatee.

James Harden, the 22-year-old, 6’5”, USA basketball player for Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA) comes to the London Olympics with the foreboding title ‘Fear The Beard’ – for obvious reasons! Wearing the best-groomed facial hair than we’ve seen on the court, that beard suggests that James Harden just wants to win.

Get the look:

• This beard requires several weeks of growth to develop its full potential of thickness and fullness.
• Regular trimming on the upper cheeks and under the nose (across the top of the mustache) is vital to maintaining shape.
• Shaving the neck under the beard.
• Clip stray whiskers to keep the beard neat and clean.
• Add a little light beard oil to moisturize and soften.