2012 London Olympics: Favorites Destined to Disappoint

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London will feature a number of elite athletes that almost everyone expects to win in their sport and discipline.

However, not everything always goes to plan and often times these legends will prove to be beatable.

It will be no different during this Olympiad, so let’s take a look at five athletes who are favorites to dominate but will come up short.  

Tom Daley: Diving

Daley is just 18 years old, but he’s the host country’s greatest hope to medal in diving. That’s not going to be easy, especially because Qiu Bo is participating.  

The 19-year-old Chinese national is widely regarded as the best diver in the world, and will be looking to dominate in London as he did at the World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai back in 2011.

The pressure on Daley’s back and the absolute skill of Bo is going to be a large reason why the British youngster will not pull through in his inaugural Olympics. 

Tyson Gay: Sprinting

The 29-year-old Kentucky native is America’s best sprint athlete, but he’s not in the same class as Bolt or some of the other top sprinters.

He’s often been expected to challenge the world record holder, possibly because he beat Bolt in the 100-meter dash at Stockholm back in August of 2010.

Aside from that fluke victory, Gay hasn’t held a candle to the world’s best sprinters and will likely place behind Bolt, his teammate Yohan Blake or numerous other elite runners in his events.

Andy Murray: Tennis

Murray isn’t from London, but he has a residence in the city and is from nearby Scotland. He’s going to be the fan favorite during the Olympic Games, but he’s going to let down the Britons.

The 25-year-old has never won a major tournament or medaled at an Olympic Games, and is constantly dominated by Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

Fortunately for Murray, he’ll be able to avoid Rafa, but the Djoker and Swiss star are still competing in the London Games.

The best-case scenario for Andy is a bronze medal. 

Usain Bolt: Sprinting

The 25-year-old was once the most dominant sprinter on planet Earth. He captured three gold medals at the Beijing Games, but things have certainly changed.

In the four years since the 2008 Summer Olympics, Bolt has battled plenty of injuries and suffered through numerous false starts that have hurt the progress of his career.

The legendary sprinter did not even finish first in Jamaica’s trials in the 100 and 200 back in June. Teammate Yohan Blake won each of those races.

Bolt looks plain beatable, and it will not be surprising if the 2012 London Games signal the end of his amazing run at the top of the sprinting world.

Michael Phelps: Swimming

The London Games should be the 27-year-old’s last Olympic competition. He’s reportedly trying to enjoy himself more and have more fun, rather than focus on the cutthroat competition.

Considering he already has 16 medals (14 golds) from Athens and Beijing, it’s understandable that this is becoming routine and hard on the greatest Olympian of all time.

He’s poised to break Soviet Union gymnast Larisa Latynina’s record of 18 total medals in the next week and will retire as the top medal-earner in Olympics history.

Expect younger, hungrier teammate Ryan Lochte and numerous swimmers from other nations to take advantage of a complacent Phelps and keep him from winning gold in all seven of his events.