It’s not uncommon for two siblings to excel at the same sport growing up, and for some select few that excellence can translate into Olympic success.
The 2012 US Olympic tennis team roster — which includes Serena and Venus Williams and Andy Roddick just to name a few — reads like a who’s who of the sport. But to casual fans, brothers Bob and Mike Bryan may not be as instantly recognizable.
Many of the 49 men and women who make up this year’s US swimming squad — like Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Jessica Hardy and Rebecca Soni — have years of experience. But fresh-faced Missy Franklin is a relative newcomer to the sport.
US Olympian Matt Grevers, 27, will compete at the Summer Olympics in London at the end of this month. After hauling in three medals in Beijing in 2008, Grevers has trained diligently and seems destined to add to his personal medal count in 2012.
At 27 years old, swimmer Michael Phelps is at the top of his game. He’s won countless honors, awards and medals during his career, leading some to describe him as the greatest athlete in history to ever grace the sport.
Of all the US athletes set to participate in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, none have captured our hearts more so than Lolo (real name Lori) Jones. And why not?
For more than a decade, Michael Phelps has been the undisputed star of male competitive swimming. But that may change when 27-year-old Ryan Lochte competes at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London and vies for the title of the fastest swimmer alive.
To get to know this athlete better, here are 10 things you may not know about the Olympic hopeful.