Top Athletes to Watch at 27th Summer Olympic Games in London

swimmer Michael Phelps - athens
Michael Phelps – AP

The 27th Summer Olympic Games is almost here. Beginning this Friday, London, England will host the 30th Olympiad and there are many top athletes from around the world to watch.

Rich in culture and history, London will now become the only city to host three official Olympic Games. London first hosted in 1908, then in 1948 after World War II and now in 2012.

As today’s athletes get bigger and faster, these Summer Olympics are the ideal showcase to the display the world their talents. According to NBColympics.com, the U.S. is the all-time leader in medals at the Summer Games with 2,302, more than twice Soviet Union which won 1,122.

Good luck to all the athletes in London. These Summer Olympics Games are destined to be the best ever. It’s estimated that a staggering 4 billion people worldwide, will watch the Games on their TV.

Here is a sample of some of the great athletes to keep a close watch on:

Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps – AP

Michael Phelps
Likely the biggest athlete to watch will be U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps. This will be Phelps’ third Olympic Games as he tries to break the all-time medal record of 18 (1956 – 1964) held by female Soviet gymnastics legend Larysa Latynina. Michael Phelps already holds the record for most gold medals, with 14 won in 2004 and 2008. What is amazing is Phelps has earned 14 gold of his 16 total medals, and 2 bronze.

track race star Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt – Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Usain Bolt
The speed demon of the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing China will be a favorite once again in London. Usain Bolt won three track and field gold medals in Beijing – 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meter relay race for Jamaica. He also set world records in all three of this track races. Bolt is currently the world champion in the 200 meters.

Kohei Uchimura
This gifted Japanese gymnast is the reigning three-time world champion. Uchimura has the honor of being the only gymnast to have won the world title three times in a row. Kohei Uchimura won a silver medal in Beijing in the all-around but hasn’t lost a competition since.

Missy Franklin - U.S. Olympic swimmer
Missy Franklin – Al Bello/Getty Images

Missy Franklin
She’s just 17 years old but American swimmer Missy Franklin will become a household name after these Lond Summer Games are over. her nickname is “Missy the Missle” and she’s lightning fast in the water. During last year’s world championships, the young swimmer won five medals, including three golds.

Carmelita Jeter
Speed is her game the Olympics will be her center stage. Jeter won the 100 meter meter world title in 2011, plus took a silver medal in the 200 meters. She was part of the strong 400 meter U.S. relay team that held off Jamaica to win a gold medal. Last year Carmelita Jeter has the world’s fastest time in the 200 meters at just 10.7 seconds.

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