US Olympic Gymnastics Team 2012: Top 3 Contenders to Watch in London

Women's gymnastics always ends up being one of America's favorite events to watch at the Olympics.

The gymnastics team is where America finds the athletes it loves the most, roots for the hardest and cheers for the loudest when they win. It's where we found Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin in 2008.

Without a doubt, we'll find new America's sweethearts on the gymnastics team in London this summer. Here are some of the contenders who will be fighting for gold at the 2012 Olympics and are worth America's hearts.

Gabby Douglas

The Virginia Beach native was the overall winner at this year's Olympic Trials—by one-tenth of a point. As a result, she was the only gymnast to earn an automatic bid to the Games, and the other four finalists were determined by a selection committee.

Her Olympic bid was no surprise: In the World Championships in 2011, she was a gold medalist, and this year, she was the U.S. bronze medalist in the uneven bars and floor exercise.

The 16-year-old could be the U.S.'s best chance of winning the all-around gold medal, and she also has the best chance of earning the hearts of America with her infectious smile and bubbly personality. But given the fact that she hasn't yet proven herself in international competition—at least as much as some of her teammates—she still has a lot of work to do in order solidify herself as a legitimate contender for the gold.

Jordyn Wieber

She was the favorite entering the Olympic Trials, and while she didn't come out on top, she was pretty close to triumphing over U.S. teammate Douglas.

Wieber has definitely received her fair share of media attention, even before being a part of the Olympic team. She's been on The Today Show, Ellen and she's even been on a Corn Flakes box, according to Fox Sports' Reid Forgrave. And yet, she—along with the rest of the world—was shocked when she failed to earn America's automatic bid to the Games during the trials.

Perhaps, though, this was what she needed to kick her competitive edge into high gear. Perhaps Douglas will do for Wieber what Ryan Lochte does to Michael Phelps: encourage her to compete harder than she thought she could.

According to Forgrave, the reigning world champion has won a gold medal only once at the Olympics since 1972. This 17-year-old—and 2011 World Championships all-around gold medalist—could be exactly what the world needs to reverse that trend.

McKayla Maroney

She may not have been one of the top two finishers at the trials, but Maroney is the world vault champion and certainly impressed in her event during the trials. Unfortunately, she's been battling a sore right foot, but she should be ready by the time the Games begin on Friday, according to the Associated Press.

Of course, when you look at her chance of winning the gold, there's her foot injury to consider—and the fact that she couldn't participate in the 2012 Visa Championships because of a concussion, according to the AP. But if she manages to get back to form in time for the first women's events on Sunday—which, in all likelihood, she will—the rest of the world is at a huge disadvantage, at least in this event. 

The 16-year-old is the favorite to win the vault, and for evidence of why, you only have to look to her performance at the Visa Championships in October. If she doesn't win the gold in London, it will be a big, big upset—kind of on par with Michael Phelps failing to earn a medal in any event.