Right now, many are preparing in their home towns. In Portland Ore., Mariel Zagunis is sharpening her fencing saber for London after becoming the first American to win gold in fencing in 100 years back in Athens. In Beijing, she took gold again and is hoping for her third this summer.
In Houston, anyone who knows Texas and gymnastics knows that long-time super coach Bela Karolyi has a ranch down there. For decades, he has trained the best American women becoming an Olympic gymnastic icon in the US. Nowadays, he's more of a rancher and media-relations guy - giving tours of the ranch while his wife Marta is the Olympic team head coach. Under her style, the team is expected to do very well.
The US is also expected to be very strong in Taekwondo. In Houston, you can find three Olympic medalists in that sport. They are all siblings, too. Steven Lopez has won two gold and a bronze, his brother Mark won a silver and their sister Daniel won a bronze. To even it all out, their older brother Jean is the coach - creating a family dynamic that helps the Lopezs become stronger together.
"I believe my siblings training with me and having that same common goal and dream has made it easier for sure because when I'm not motivated or I'm tired, I know that they are feeling the same thing," Steven Lopez said. "And it is sometimes a lonely position to be in when everyone is going out, staying up late, doing whatever they need to do or want to do. I can't because I'm focused on what I what I need to do here in the gym."
(KUSA-TV © 2012 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)