Summer Olympics 2012: Americans Set to Win a Career-Boosting Gold Medal

There's an endless amount of American athletes heading to London this summer in an attempt to win a life-changing gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

However, only a handful are in position to actually claim career-boosting gold in their respective sports and competitions. 

Without further ado, here are three Americans set to separate themselves from the rest with mighty gold in 2012.

Ryan Lochte, Swimming

The American swimming sensation will turn 28 years old during the London Olympics this summer, but that won't stop him from snatching a few gold medals in the pool.

Lochte won gold in the men's 200-meter backstroke at the 2008 Games in Beijing, but was undone by fellow American Michael Phelps four years ago in both the men's 200- and 400-meter individual medley.

Lochte won bronze in both events, but is a legitimate threat to take gold in both this time around.

He is the world-record holder in the 200-meter medley. His time of one minute and 54 seconds flat is 0.23 seconds faster than the world record Phelps set at the 2008 Summer Games.

Lochte already has Olympic gold in his trophy case, but in 2012, he can boost himself onto the list of elite swimmers in Olympic history.

He'll be a favorite in the 200-meter freestyle, 200-meter backstroke, 200-meter individual medley as well as the 400-meter individual medley. 

Serena Williams, Tennis

One of the greatest players in the history of the sport, American tennis star Serena Williams can add an elusive Olympic gold to her list of accomplishments this summer at the 2012 Games in London.

Williams is coming off her fifth career Wimbledon championship earlier this summer, and will likely feel right at home at the All England Club. 

Williams has won double's gold twice (2000 and 2008) alongside her sister Venus, but an individual Olympic crown would elevate Williams to the level of Steffi Graf.

Graf is the only tennis player with more Grand Slam titles than Serena who also has achieved Olympic gold.

Williams would have to be considered the second or third greatest female tennis player of all time with 29 Grand Slams (14 individual) and an Olympic gold medal in women's singles. 

Lolo Jones, Track and Field

Until Lolo Jones wins an Olympic gold medal, she will always be criticized for her fame and notoriety.

The good-looking hurdler from Iowa made a critical error late in her quest for gold in the women's 100-meter hurdles at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, stumbling on the ninth (of 10) hurdles to finish seventh after she had begun pulling away from the rest of the competitors. 

Jones' rags-to-riches story has also made her one of the more popular track and field athletes in recent memory.

Her critics claim that she is undeserving of the spotlight and attention because she has yet to achieve anything on the Olympic circuit. That is why a redeeming gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles this summer in London would be a career-boosting one for Jones.

The 29-year-old can get the four-year-old monkey off her back and legitimize herself as one of the sport's greatest with a gold medal.

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