Today London will officially greet the world with open arms and a royal entrance, and the Amebas are excited for the 2012 Summer Olympics!
Some Team USA fun facts, courtesy of NBC:
Gender majority: Female. For the first time ever, the U.S. is sending more women than men to the Olympic Games. U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun called the historical gender tip “a true testament to the impact of Title IX, which in its 40-year history has increased sport opportunities for millions of females across the United States.”
The final line-up names 261 males and 269 females, including the three members of the first-ever women’s boxing team, which will make history in London August 5.
State sending the most athletes: California is sending 128 athletes, including 24 of the 26 U.S. water polo players and the entire 3-person U.S. badminton team, to the Games. That means roughly a quarter of the entire U.S. Olympic team will be from the Golden State.
New York and Pennsylvania tie for second—both states are sending 35 athletes, while third-place Texas is sending 33.
Tallest: Tyson Chandler, who will play center on the U.S. basketball team, stands at 7-foot-1 and is more than two feet taller than the shortest members of Team USA.
Shortest: Diver Katie Bell, wrestler Clarissa Chun and gymnast Gabby Douglas are all 4-foot-11.
Average age: 27
Youngest member: Katie Ledecky, a 15-year-old swimmer from Bethesda, Md., will compete in the 800m free.
Oldest member: Karen O’Connor, a 54-year-old from Ocala, Fla., earned a spot on the equestrian team.
Most-decorated: Swim star Michael Phelps still reigns with 16 medals (14 gold, two bronze). On the ladies side, it’s Natalie Coughlin, who has 11 (three golds, four silvers and four bronze).
Largest team: The athletics team, which includes track and field competitors, is made up of 125 athletes—62 women and 63 men. The swim team is the second largest with 49 athletes, and the rowing team is third with 44.
Smallest teams: The synchronized swimming team is sending two ladies—Mary Killman of McKinney, Texas, and Mariya Koroleva of Concord, Calif.—to London to compete. Badminton, modern pentathlon and weightlifting are all three-person teams.
Other fun facts:
Not their first rodeo: Team USA includes 228 returning Olympians, including seven five-time Olympians, 21 four-time Olympians, 57 three-time Olympians and 143 two-time Olympians.
Not this year: There are no athletes on Team USA from New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, South Carolina or West Virginia.
Lots of siblings: Eight pairs of siblings will compete at the Games, including two sets of twins (tennis players Bob and Mike Bryan and rowers Grant and Ross James).
Moms and dads: There will be 13 mothers and 54 fathers.
Connecticut breeds rowers: Of the eight athletes from the Constitution State, six are competing in rowing or sailing. (The other two are on the athletics team.)
California is providing the entire badminton team and most of the water polo team: As indicated above, 24 of the 26 U.S. water polo athletes hail from California.
The team will participate in a digital send-off. The last time the Games were in London in 1948, the send-off involved live music, speeches and 240 athletes boarding a ship to embark on a trans-Atlantic journey. Times change. This year, it means live athlete chats on Facebook and live athlete Q&A sessions on Twitter. The digital send-off happens Wednesday, July 11, from noon to 5 p.m. ET. For more information, visit Team USA on the web.
Which events you most are most excited about? Check the schedule and stay updated on results here: http://www.london2012.com/schedule-and-results/. Enjoy!
