US Olympic Swimming Team: Ryan Lochte and Stars That'll Unseat Michael Phelps

With the 2012 Summer Olympics starting Friday, July 27, the excitement about all the events scheduled for the London Games has fans on the edge of their seat.

One team has the USA especially captivated—the United States Olympic swim team.

The biggest star is Michael Phelps, who medaled in eight events in both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.

Phelps has become a national phenomenon with endorsement deals and the star treatment, but other swimmers are out to best him.

All of the following stars will be out to not only medal for their nation, but to beat the best in the world.

This is going to be great!

Ryan Lochte

If there was anyone who could challenge for the No. 1 swimmer in the world honor over Phelps right now, it would be Ryan Lochte. You may not know his name now, but you will soon enough.

As great as Phelps has been over the last decade, Lochte was right behind Phelps in many of the events in the 2008 games and has done nothing but improve since then. While he didn’t win eight medals, Lochte’s six are still pretty nice.

Lochte has entered the 200-meter backstroke, 200 individual medley, 400 individual medley, 200 freestyle and 800 freestyle relay, and he looks to take home even more gold this time around.

With his speed and power, Phelps is going to have a hard time overtaking Lochte.

Cullen Jones

Another name to look out for this time around will be Cullen Jones.

With Michael Phelps looking susceptible for the first time in years, a star like Jones that has paid his dues should be ready to capitalize on the chances he is given.

Jones is just the third African-American to make the U.S. Olympic swimming team, and he looks to join elite company by winning even more hardware. The star medaled in 2008, but he wants more.

There is little doubt that Jones is going to win gold—now it’s just a matter of how much he walks away with.

I have him winning three gold medals.

Ricky Berens

If the fans of swimming are looking for a young gun to get behind, Ricky Berens is the man to back coming into the 2012 London Games.

While he has only medaled in a relay race at his only games in 2008, Berens is a real threat for multiple gold this time.

While the star did not make any individual events, he will be the biggest key in both the 4x100 freestyle relay and the 4x200 freestyle relay events. With Phelps and Lochte sitting out the shorter relays, the majority of the team’s strength will come from Berens.

As great as all four swimmers on the relay squad are, Team USA needs Berens to be great.

Check back for more on the 2012 Summer Olympics as it comes, and don’t miss Bleacher Report’s Olympics page to get your fill of the best athletes the world has to offer.

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