The United States Olympic Committee today announced the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team that will compete in the upcoming London Olympic Games. The 530-member team is comprised of 269 women and 261 men, marking the first time in history that Team USA features more female athletes. The United States will be represented in 25 sports (38 disciplines) and 246 of the 302 medal events that will be contested in London.
The 2012 U.S. Olympic Team features 228 returning Olympians, including seven five-time Olympians, 21 four-time Olympians, 57 three-time Olympians and 143 two-time Olympians. Returning from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where the U.S. finished first in the overall medal count with 110 medals, are 206 U.S. Olympians. Among the returnees are 124 Olympic medalists, 76 of whom are Olympic champions.
The seven U.S. Olympians headed to their fifth Olympic Games include Amy Acuff, track & field; Phillip Dutton, equestrian - eventing; Khatuna Lorig, archery; Emil Milev, shooting; Karen O'Connor, equestrian - eventing; Kim Rhode, shooting; and Danielle Scott-Arruda, volleyball - indoor. Only 16 other athletes in U.S. Olympic history have competed in five Olympic Games.
To congratulate and wish the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team good luck, the USOC is engaging in the age-old tradition of sending-off Team USA. In order for Americans across the country to participate, this year's farewell will be formatted as a Digital Send-off, featuring live athlete chats on Facebook, live athlete Q&A sessions on Twitter and editorial content posted to TeamUSA.org . The Team USA Digital Send-Off will take place Wednesday, July 11, from noon-5 p.m. ET. To find out which athletes will be participating, click here; list includes rower Sara Hendershot.
2012 U.S. Olympic Team Fun Facts: