London 2012 Olympics: Most Captivating American Athletes to Watch This Summer

No sporting event captivates such a widespread audience as the Olympic games. 

With wildly popular athletes like LeBron James and Michael Phelps, American fans certainly have many amazing athletes to root for at this year's event in London.

Along with James and Phelps, let's take a look at the other American athletes you must watch this summer.  

LeBron James, Basketball

James is currently fighting to win his first NBA championship, but later this summer, he'll be looking to capture his second Olympic gold. 

As the leader of Team USA and one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet, James will be a figurehead of the American athletes that you must watch in London. 

The Americans are the favorites to win gold, after they "redeemed" themselves in 2008 following a poor international showing to start the 2000s. 

James averaged 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists en route to the gold in Beijing. 

It won't be easy to repeat, especially if and when they reach the semifinals, but with James leading the way along with a myriad of talented NBA stars, the Americans should once again emerge as the best in the basketball world. 

Michael Phelps, Swimming

Phelps' 2008 Olympics will never be forgotten. He won a record eight gold medals and has 16 total Olympic medals to his name. 

While he may not be as dominant this year as he was four years ago, he's still a top contender in every competition in which he races. 

An American athlete identifiable as any, Phelps will be the center of one of the Olympics' more heart-pounding sports. 

Allyson Felix, Track

The 26-year-old sprinter will make her third appearance in the Olympics.

She has had a successful career on the world's biggest stage in the past. Her 4x400-meter relay team won gold in Beijing, and she finished second individually in her premier event—the 200-meter dash—just like she did in Athens in 2004.

The sprints are a must-see aspect of the Olympics, and there's no American female with a better shot to finally win that ever-elusive gold than Felix. 

Misty May-Treanor, Volleyball

May-Treanor and partner Kerri Walsh have controlled the women's beach volleyball scene for the last decade, winning gold in each of the last two Olympic games. 

At 34 years old, this will likely be Treanor's last go-around on the Olympic stage, but she's prepared to win her third-consecutive gold medal and has tweaked her workout to get her ready for what would be a historic three-peat. 

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