By George Richards, McClatchy Newspapers –
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Population: 314 million.
Major cities: New York/Newark, N.J. 19.3 million; Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Washington (capital).
Top exports: Consumer goods (computer accessories, clothing, sporting goods, toys, video equipment, furniture, footwear), aircraft, automotive, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, coal/fuels.
Top sports: Basketball, women’s soccer, swimming/diving, cycling, wrestling, boxing, track and field, tennis.
Olympic history: The 2012 London Games will mark the 27th Summer Olympics for the United States, as it has missed only one when it boycotted the 1980 Games in Moscow in response to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. In turn, the USSR didn’t compete in the 1984 Los Angeles Games. The United States has won 2,302 medals overall (more than twice that of second-place Soviet Union) and won gold 929 times. (also more than double the second-place Soviet Union) Baltimore native Michael Phelps has won 16 medals — second all time to Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina (18). All but two of Phelps’ medals are gold — the most of any Olympian.
Who to watch: Phelps won eight golds in Beijing and came to Beijing looking all but a lock for the all-time individual medals record. Phelps won two bronze medals in Sydney in 2004 and nothing but gold since then. Phelps is in four individual races and three relays in London. However, Ryan Lochte served noticed that he may be the standout swimmer of these Games. The men’s basketball team has won gold in four of the five Olympics since the original “Dream Team” took the court in 1992. Miami Heat star LeBron James goes for his second gold medal. … The women’s basketball team won gold the past three Summer Olympics. … The women’s soccer team goes for its third consecutive gold. … The Williams sisters are favored to win the women’s tennis doubles and the Bryan brothers (Bob and Mike) are favored to win men’s doubles. … Sanya Richards-Ross is favored to win her first individual gold in the 400. Richards-Ross, who went to Texas, won gold on the 1,600-meter relay team in Athens and Beijing. She took bronze in the 400 in 2008. … Diver Brittany Viola was an alternate the past two Olympics but will now compete and could contend for a medal in the 10-meter platform.
