Most summers, it's enough to look forward to baseball pennant races and NFL training camps, but every four years, things are a little bit different. The 2012 Summer Olympics are set to kick off in London on July 27 and run through August 12. As is the case with most Olympic games, this year is full of intriguing storylines that will have millions of viewers across the globe glued to their televisions.
Will Michael Phelps continue his streak?
Phelps made quite a splash at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. After winning six gold medals four years prior, Phelps came to China and put on one of the most impressive performances in Olympic history. He competed in eight events and took home eight gold medals, giving him the record for most golds won in a single games.
While it will be nearly impossible for Phelps to top his performance in Beijing, it will be interesting to see how he competes. He has stated publicly that this will likely be his last Olympics, and he definitely will not be doing eight events like he did in 2008 and 2004. One thing's for sure, however, he will leave it all in the pool.
Can the men's basketball team repeat?
It was not that long ago that taking home a gold medal in men's basketball seemed like a given. Everything changed in 2004 when a talented roster settled for bronze, but after regrouping with a renewed focus the U.S. brought back the gold in 2008. So will they be able to make it two games in a row in London?
Given the amount of talent that the U.S. will be bringing to the Olympics, there's no reason they shouldn't take home to gold. Many of the best players in the NBA will be making the trip including Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook. Plus, with a Hall of Fame coach in Mike Krzyzewski, the team should come out on top.
All eyes on the track
Although there are usually many compelling storylines on the track, this year is especially interesting. Jamaica's Usain Bolt will earn a lot of focus after the display he put on in Beijing. Four years ago, Bolt set world records in the 100 meter and 200 meter dashes en route to three gold medals.
Outside of Bolt, many fans are interested to see how American Lolo Jones fares. Th 29-year-old Jones will be looking for redemption in the 100 meter hurdles. In 2008, she was on her way to a victory when she clipped the penultimate hurdle and settled for seventh.