Top 5 Olympic Gold Medal Hopefuls for Team USA

Contributed by Emma Booth.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps)
Let’s face it, swimmer Michael Phelps will be a gold medal contender even after he hangs up his trunks. 4 years ago he broke the world record for most gold medals in a single Olympic Games – eight. He won't be able to match that record in London though, as Phelps is ‘only’ competing in seven events this year... But will more than likely be on the podium seven times.

Jordyn Wieber (@jordyn_wieber)
16 year old Jordyn Wieber has taken the gymnastic scene by storm. She is already all-around World Champion as of 2011, a pretty impressive feat seeing she is still at high school. She will be leading the women’s team in London 2012, and with class such as Gabrielle Douglas and Alexandra Raisman, they will be very hard to beat.

Steven López (@StevenLopezTkd)
Steven López is the first Taekwondo fighter to ever win 5 World Championships. And his Olympic record isn’t too shabby either; He has won both the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Gold medals, but there was an upset in Beijing, and he only took home Bronze. However López is back in top form and looking to add to his medal collection with another top spot on the podium.

Allyson Felix (@allysonfelix)
Allyson Felix is the only woman ever to be a three-time Athletics World Championship gold medalist for 200m, however after winning two silver medals at the previous two Olympics, she is desperately searching for that elusive gold. And she’s looking good for it... At the Olympic Trials Final, she ran 21.69; a personal best, and the fourth fastest time ever for 200m.

Danell Leyva (@DanellJLeyva)
Another gymnast, Danell Leyva is a Cuban-born American, and currently holds the 2011 National all-around title, and the 2011 World Champion for parallel bars. Yet another strong squad, consisting of Jonathan Horton and John Orozco, the US gymnastics team may take a clean sweep of gold medals.