Canadian Medal Contenders at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London

It's been just over a century since Canada's first official Olympic team traveled to the Summer Olympics; they were in London, England. The team won 15 medals, or three medals shy of what a larger Canadian team won in Beijing. 

Known for their success in the Winter Olympics, Canada is hoping to improve upon their 15th place standing in Beijing. Earning only 18 medals in 2008, Canada's strong contenders in rowing, track and field, swimming, diving, tennis and many more, puts them in a good position for 2012. 

The hype around the 2012 Olympics has been inflated in part due to the Hudson Bay Co. and the Canadian Olympic Committee's fierce marketing campaigns, but also because of the attention Canadian athletes have garnered in international competitions this past year. 

The top athletes in each discipline seem to be of varied levels of experience. Old favorites like veteran show jumper Ian Miller will be walking in his 10th opening ceremony alongside newcomers and gold medal hopefuls like many members of the men's eight rowing team.

Some of the athletes in this slideshow have already qualified for the Olympics, but the official list has yet to be determined. Many qualifying events are scheduled to occur during the next two months.

Alexandre Despatie, Diving

Alexandre Despatie is almost a household name in Canada, sometimes for more than his diving talent.

But for the last year, he's been sidelined from the diving scene with a serious knee injury. At the one of his first major competitions this season, the 2012 World Cup, Despatie finished a disappointing eighth place.

The injury may have upset his Olympic training regime, but it's nothing he can't come back from. Before Beijing in 2008, Despatie suffered from a broken foot and still managed to place top five in three different events. 

Twelve years after he first qualified for the Olympics in Sydney, missing the podium in the 10-meter platform by one spot, Despatie is a strong medal contender in London. He's won plenty of gold medals in international events, but he has yet to win the most coveted medal of all.

So with two back-to-back Olympic silver medals in the 3-meter springboard in his pocket, seven medals at the Commonwealth Games and five at the FINA World Cups, Despatie is going for gold. 

Clara Hughes, Cycling

Canada has consistently succeeded in all disciplines of cycling, and this Olympic Games is shaping up to look no different. 

Returning to the Summer Olympics after a decade is one of Canada's most decorated athletes, Clara Hughes. As both a cyclist and a long track speed skater, Hughes is the only Canadian ever to win multiple medals in both the Winter and Summer Games. A medal in London would be the seventh in her 14-year Olympic career. 

And still riding a high after becoming the first Canadian to win one of cycling's big three races is Ryer Hesjedal. He placed seventh in the 2010 Tour de France and until winning the Giro d'Italia this week, he didn't have his eye on the Olympics. 

There is still one remaining spot on Canada's cycling roster and that might just go to Hesjedal. Whether he decides to forgo some much-needed rest after a grueling three weeks in Italy has yet to be determined. But if he decides to race, watch out. 

Brent Hayden, Swimming

All eyes will be on Michael Phelps as he attempts to sweep the podium once again, but Canada's Brent Hayden, who was seeded ahead of Phelps in the 100-meter freestyle in Beijing, could be stiff competition for Phelps.

Hayden's Beijing performance was less than ideal. He walked away empty handed, failing to qualify in his best event, the 100-meter freestyle. With a silver medal from the 2011 World Championships around his neck, Hayden is back more determined than ever. 

Rosie MacLennan, Trampoline

Gymnastics has traditionally been dominated by the Chinese, Russians and Americans, but since Trampoline was added to the mix in 2000, Canada has become a formidable foe. 

Canada's trampoline trio, Rosie MacLennan, Jason Burnett and Karen Cockburn are poised to medal at this year's Olympics.

Many expect Karen Cockburn to medal once again in individual trampoline; she's stood on the podium in Athens, Sydney and Beijing, but MacLennan, her synchronized trampoline partner, is one to watch. 

MacLennan has been victorious in almost every international competition this season: A win at the 2011 National Trampoline Championships, the Pan American Championships and then a silver medal 2011 World Games. 

With a degree of difficulty only .30 behind the world record of 15.30, MacLennan's technique and consistency is what gives her the edge. 

Adam Van Koeverden, Kayaking

With a medal in every color from two different Olympic Games, Adam Van Koeverden will enter the 2012 Olympics as a gold medal hopeful.

His win at the 2012 World Championships gives him an added confidence boost in the final, critical training months before the Games. Van Koeverden won the K-1 1000 meter race with a time of 3:55.217 seconds.

Van Koeverden's brute physical strength enables him to push through the tough waters to break world records. In Beijing, Van Koeverden beat his own World record in the K-1 500 meter race with a time of 1:35.554.

His teammates say his "never-give-up attitude" and hardworking nature inspire and motivate the Canoe/Kayak team. 

Eric Lamaze, Show Jumping

After two positive drug tests in 1996 and 2000 and consequentially withdrawn Olympic nominations, Eric Lamaze is clean and has been training well since his Olympic gold in Beijing. 

Lamaze, who also contributed to a team silver medal with solid performances, is currently the third best rider in the world, as determined by Rolex Rankings. 

Since losing his stallion, Hickstead, last November during a World Cup event, Lamaze has acquired and been competing with seven different horses.

The results have been positive, but some of his horses are still young and inexperienced, with little or no international exposure.

For the rest of the summer, Lamaze will compete on the European circuit giving his horses more time in the ring and himself more time in the saddle.

The Canadian Equestrian federation will officially announce the Olympic team after this weekend's largest equestrian competition, Spruce Meadows. 

Another top contender for an Olympic medal is Lamaze's teammate and nine-time Olympian, Ian Miller. 

Priscilla Lopes-Schliep, 100-Meter Hurdles

Less than a year after giving birth to an eight-pound baby girl, Priscilla Lopes-Schliep is back on the track.

In her first major competition since motherhood, Lopes-Schliep ran a 12.95 placing her in third place at the Meeting de la Region de la Guadeloupe. Just a few days later, she shaved 0.31 seconds off her time at a meet in Jamaica.

While she is still running slower than her 2009 personal best or even her 2008 Olympic bronze medal winning time, 12.64, Lopes-Schliep should place in London. She's hoping the next few months of training will increase her muscle mass and improve her speed.

The Olympic team will be decided after the 2012 National Championships in June where two up-and-coming hurdlers Nikkita Holder and Phylicia George, who are also Lopes-Schliep's training partners, will be battling it out for Canada's three Olympic spots. 

Mary Spencer, Women's Boxing

Women's boxing will mark its debut in London, with Canada's Mary Spencer, a three-time World Champion, five-time Pan American Champion and eight-time National Champion, hopefully at the helm.

In the last year, Spencer has only lost nine out of 115 matches, one of which was to guarantee her Olympic berth. After a loss in the first round of this year's Women's World Boxing Championship, Spencer's shot at making the Olympic team now depends on a wild-card slot.

If the wild card is awarded to another top boxer, like American Claressa Shields and or Brazil’s Rosalie Fetosa, Canada will not have an entry in the 75km (165 pound) category.