Olympic Results 2012: 5 Americans Making a Name for Themselves in London

The 2012 London Olympics are the perfect opportunity for young, largely unknown athletes to make a name for themselves in front of the entire world.

Some such athletes aren't "largely unknown," so to speak, but they weren't the national celebrities that they have become thanks to their impressive performances across the pond.

It doesn't matter what sport you play in the Olympics, just that you are there. People love to see athletes from their home country compete against the world. It's almost like war, except in a much more civil, less barbaric way.

The Olympics are something to get pumped up about, and the athletes on this list are definitely pumped up.

Here are five athletes who have made a name for themselves in London.

Anthony Davis

I'm sure you knew who Anthony Davis was before he joined the Team USA's Olympic roster after Blake Griffin suffered an injury to his knee.

He hasn't had a huge impact on the team's success, but his performance has been something to marvel at. Davis doesn't play all that much for Mike Krzyzewski other than garbage time, but it's so exciting to watch him when he's in.

We all expected this guy to come into the NBA and play well in the league, but to see him playing with NBA stars—and doing it like he's always been there—makes you smile at the thought of watching him for the next 15 years.

He's so long and lanky, which makes it so fun to watch him fly around blocking shots and throwing down dunks.

We may have already known his name, but Davis' showing thus far in London has endeared him in the hearts of many Americans.

Allison Schmitt

Allison Schmitt has become the center of attention for the United States women's swim team over the first handful of days in London.

She started off her Olympic campaign by swimming in the 4x100-meter freestyle, helping her team bring home a bronze medal.

Her work wasn't done there, and the best was yet to come. Schmitt dominated the 200-meter freestyle, winning by almost two seconds to bring home the gold medal.

She also won a silver medal in the 400-meter freestyle.

Schmitt really burst onto the scene in her most recent gold-medal effort. With her team behind the Australians heading into her split, she stormed back and wound up touching the wall 1.5 seconds before the second-place finisher.

Danell Leyva

American gymnast Danell Leyva has been the cornerstone for the 2012 men's gymnastics team in London. When his teammates needed picking up in the all-around qualification, he did exactly that.

The American men dominated the qualifying round, but faltered during the team final. That was through no fault of Leyva's though, as he finished in the top 10 in every event but the pommel horse.

Leyva wasn't done after a disappointing result in the team all-around. In the individual all-around, he was able to win the bronze medal.

He was brilliant on the uneven bars and parallel bars, finishing first in both events. Had it not been for another let down on the pommel horse, he might have been able to challenge the two men that finished ahead of him.

Aly Raisman

Aly Raisman has become the face of American women's gymnastics after beating out Jordyn Wieber for a spot in the individual all-around final.

Many expected Wieber and teammate Gabby Douglas to be the two Americans advancing to the final, but Raisman proved the doubters wrong and finished second.

She spearheaded the American gold-medal effort in the team all-around final, in which the "Fab Five" obliterated the field, finishing over five points ahead of the Russians.

It's not just Raisman's performance that has made her a fan-favorite in gymnastics. Her charisma has done well to further her career, much like Shawn Johnson's did in 2008.

Raisman has more to be done, though, as the individual all-around final is right around the corner.

Gabby Douglas

It would be impossible to include Aly Raisman without also including her teammate Gabby Douglas. What makes Douglas so intriguing is her welcoming smile and always perky attitude no matter what the circumstances.

She, just like Raisman, was a huge part of her team bringing home the team all-around gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. And, just like her teammate, she will be competing in the individual all-around final.

The two will be looking to become the second consecutive duo of American female gymnasts to finish one and two in the individual all-around competition after Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson were able to accomplish that feat in Beijing.

At just 16-years-old, Douglas has plenty of Olympics left in her. You can bet that she'll be making at run at the 2016 Rio games.