London Olympics 2012: 2008 Winners with Best Chance to Repeat

Finally, the opening ceremonies have concluded and the Olympic Games are on television for the next two weeks—best two weeks of the year if you ask me.

Even though the games have started, it's not going to stop me from speculating. There's still so much to analyze and think about going forward.

In 2008, the United States were the dominant force in terms of total medal count, but China took the most golds. How many of their stars will repeat? How many new faces will spoil that?

Here are the athletes destined to win in London, just as they did in Beijing.

USA Basketball

To begin the list, why not start with the United States' basketball team, led by the newly crowned NBA champion, LeBron James?

As was the case in 2008, the U.S. team is loaded with NBA stars—and Anthony Davis—that are all far away better than most of the countries even represented.

Granted, China and Spain will provide some hefty competition.

Not only are the men in a tremendous position to repeat, but the women are even more strongly favored to win. Can ya tell that basketball is a bit of an American sport?

Chen Yibing, Gymnastics

Since 2006, Chen Yibing has been a dominant force in men's gymnastics, with his main specialty coming on the still rings.

Just how dominant has he been? He won gold in Beijing and is a four-time world champion in the event ('06-07, '10-11). He is now the captain of the Chinese team and will be on the rings again in London.

Chen does have a little more competition in this year's games, but no one that has quite the experience and expertise that he does. Watch for another dominant performance. 

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, Beach Volleyball

I am very well aware of the events that have taken place since 2008 between Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.

Walsh had a couple of children and May-Treanor tore her Achilles. In addition to both of those, each of the two have played a few games with different partners. Still, they're back together for London, and I firmly believe that the chemistry they had didn't leave them.

The American team likely is at the biggest risk of falling off from their gold medal performances in Beijing and Athens, but I think they've got one more championship run in them.

Jan Frodeno, Triathlon

One of the overlooked sports in the Olympic Games would be the triathlon. It is kind of hard to sit down and watch, but when you think about how physically and mentally tough the athletes have to be to do the triathlon, you can't help but be impressed.

Jan Frodeno, from Germany, won the triathlon by about five seconds in 2008 and won a world championship in Seoul in 2010.

It appears Frodeno is showing no signs of slowing down, and he should be putting on another fantastic show in London.

Michael Phelps, Swimming

I shouldn't have to really explain this one too much.

Michael Phelps is not only America's golden boy, but he's been the icon of the Summer Games since his record-breaking performance in Beijing. Eight golds in 2008 and six in 2004 gives him an incredible 14 total.

His greatest competition will be Ryan Lochte, but he's only competing against him in two events. Phelps will be in seven in London, and he's going to continue to pile up the gold in what could be his final Olympic Games.