Michael Phelps may have been USA's 2008 Beijing Olympics shining star, but from the looks of this Olympic lineup, there's definitely no shortage of record-breaking athletes.
It doesn't look like swimmer Ryan Lochte will be comfortable taking a back seat to his champion teammate Phelps this time around. "I think overall, I'm just a lot older, smarter, and a better athlete than I was going into Beijing," the 27-year-old tells Us Weekly. "I changed my diet and I started doing heavier weight lifting."
Another name to watch out for is up-and-comer gymnast Gabby Douglas, who makes her Olympic debut this year at age 16. For the Virginia native, her accomplishment is a dream come true. "I loved watching the ABC Family show Make It Or Break It and saying to myself, 'I can do that!'" she tells Us. "It was kind of like watching a really cheesy version of my life — but I loved it anyway!"
Want more Olympics? Meet Team USA's families, go inside their homes (and gyms!), and more! Check out Us Weekly's Olympic collectors edition, "American Heroes," on newsstands now. Order at bn.com/usolympics.
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!
