Jul 4, 2008 By Bobby Fox 3 min read

If the past few weekends are any indication, the United States may be in for a very successful trip when they travel to Beijing for the 2008 summer Olympics. Super swimming sensation Michael Phelps may leave China as the greatest swimmer in the history of international competition. The 23-year old already has six Olympic gold medals and a pair of bronzes in his vast collection of trophies.

The Baltimore native looks like he’s even more prepared for these games than he was for the 2004 games in Athens. This was quite evident this past Sunday when he broke his own record in the 400-meter individual medley. Another factor playing into Phelps’ favor is the retirement of Australian superstar Ian Thorpe. Without the “Thorpedo” the stage looks set for Phelps to win as many as nine golds this year.

Staying in the pool, but switching swim suits, the U.S. could also have a superstar in the women’s competitions as 19-year old Katie Hoff also broke a record at the U.S. Olympic qualifiers. She now owns the top mark for women in the 400-meter medley.

While Phelps and Hoff are the undisputed king and queen of American swimming, 25-year old Tyson Gay is the unquestioned face of American Track and Field.

At the track qualifiers for the U.S. Olympic team, Gay broke the world record in the 100 meters with a scorching mark of 9.68 seconds. The record won’t be recognized as official, however, as the 4.1-meter per second wind at the sprinter’s back was declared too strong to allow Gay the mark.

The U.S. will also send strong sprinters in Walter Dix and Darvis Patton to challenge a potent Jamaican one-two punch in 100 world record holder Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell. The marquee matchup of Gay vs. Bolt will almost certainly springboard the sprint back to a spot among the most eagerly anticipated events of the games.

Yet another name is starting to spread in the American consciousness in gymnastic dynamo Shawn Johnson. Yes, this young woman from Iowa is making one big impact, especially when you consider she stands just four feet, eight inches tall and is just 16 years old.

However, Johnson is already the 2008 United States Champion and the 2007 National champion and could bring home yet another gold medal in what is looking like a big treasure trove for our best and brightest.

Look out world, the Americans are coming.