London 2012 Olympics: Breaking Down Americans Who Will Steal the Show

I don't think I'm going out on a limb by saying that the American athletes tend to be the favorites in the Olympic games.  Maybe not for every single individual event, but as a whole, the team is pretty darn good every time the games roll around.

However, I'm not using this article to talk about the well-known names—Phelps, James, Wambach, etc.  No, this is devoted more to those who really haven't seen the Olympic stage yet and are due to break into the spotlight in London.

The question is, who are the five that are going to step into prominence?

Serena Williams, Tennis

OK, so Serena Williams isn't exactly an unknown name.  Still, she is coming off her fifth Wimbledon championship, and is heading into London on a hot streak.

It's not going to be Williams' first round of Olympics either—she's won two golds in prior games in doubles competition.

In 2012, she'll be competing in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, so I do believe Serena has one more great run in her.

Ryan Lochte, Swimming

Is it possible that swimming might get a new face in London?

Yeah, it probably won't happen, but Ryan Lochte is going to be the biggest competition for Michael Phelps.  They only will be competing against each other twice, but it's worth mentioning that Lochte has beaten Phelps several times.

Naturally, I'm not going to be rooting against either one—whoever wins will score gold for America (and the other will probably get some silver).

Still, Lochte is the best legitimate competition Phelps has, and if Lochte can overtake him in both events, there will be another golden boy in America—terrible pun, I know.

Carmelita Jeter, Track and Field

It's amazing to me that a woman at 32 years old is just now on the verge of becoming the world's fastest woman.  Carmelita Jeter will be making her Olympic debut in London.

While most athletes establish themselves young, that wasn't the case for Jeter—why should it be?  Especially when you consider just how good she is now. 

During the Olympic trials, Jeter was extremely impressive, even winning the 100-meter dash. 

She was the IAAF world champion in the same event in 2011.  While track isn't the most popular sport in the games, Jeter will certainly be a spectacle to watch.

Missy Franklin, Swimming

At only 17 years old, Missy Franklin has already impressed experts and fans after her stellar performances in the Olympic trials.  She qualified to compete in seven events in London.

She holds the American record in the 100-meter backstroke, and it's no secret that that is her best event. 

Franklin is joining a pretty impressive team already, but she is very close to being the biggest name on the team.  Golds in London would certainly do the job—I'm watching for her to start her dominance in 2012 and make it last through the 2020 games.

Jordyn Wieber, Gymnastics

To be honest, when I originally heard that Nastia Liukin, Alicia Sacramone, and Shawn Johnson weren't going to be in London, I thought the gymnastics team was in ruins.

How very unwise to make such an assumption, because the Americans have a savior in 17-year-old Jordyn Wieber. 

Just how good is Wieber?  Entering her first Olympic games, she has 13 gold medals in various world competitions.  Perhaps even more impressive, seven of those golds have come in the All Around event—she has been called a lock to win gold in that already.

In 2008, we saw Liukin and Johnson step into the spotlight and even draw some attention away from Michael Phelps.  They made gymnastics a big deal in the United States, and I'm expecting Wieber to do the very same in 2012.