America's Top 2012 Olympic Contenders

Many felt that Eaton's time had come in 2011, but the more experienced Trey Hardee earned the decathlon gold medal in Daegu, while Eaton rallied for a silver. Now it appears that predictions regarding Eaton's rise weren't wrong, they were just a year early. Eaton won the heptathlon at the 2012 World Indoor Championships, breaking his own world record as he did so, then he set the decathlon world mark at the U.S. Trials. The only thing he has left to prove is that he can win a major decathlon away from Oregon's Hayward Field. Don't bet against him.

Hardee has won the last two World Championship decathlon gold medals and should be a formidable contender in London. He'll no doubt remember his disappointment in Beijing when he no-heighted in the pole vault, dropping him out of medal competition.

Reese has been the world's dominant high jumper since 2009 – winning two outdoor and two indoor World Championships – after placing fifth in the 2008 Olympics. She's strongly favored to add an Olympic gold medal to her trophy case in 2012.

The dual jumping threat may again attempt the long jump-triple jump double, as he did at the 2011 outdoor World Championships and the 2012 World Indoor Championships. His best chance for a medal is in the triple jump, however, after earning a bronze and gold, respectively, in Daegu and Istanbul.

Taylor earned a surprise triple jump gold medal in Daegu at age 21, then finished one place behind former University of Florida teammate Will Claye in the 2012 World Indoor Championships. The performers hope to share the medals stand again in London.

The veteran high jumper has a nice collection of three World Championship medals – one of each color – but would like to add an Olympic medal to her stash. Lowe won't enter London as the favorite, but she's cleared 2 meters often enough to pose a threat at the 2012 Games.

Jesse Williams has been a consistently good high jumper for several years, but didn't put it all together at an international championship meet until 2011 when he earned the gold in Daegu. Williams won the Olympic Trials in 2008 but didn't qualify for the Beijing final. He’s expected to reach the final this time in what should be a wide-open high jump competition in London.

Hoffa is another American with a solid body of international work, including two World Championship shot put gold medals, but who's yet to achieve Olympic glory. Hoffa is competing in his third Olympics, having finished as high as seventh in Beijing. His 2012 performance likely makes him a slight favorite in a deeply talented shot put field.

The world's dominant shot putter for several years after finishing second in the 2008 Olympics, Cantwell has been slowed by injuries recently but still earned a spot on the U.S. team. With four World Championship gold medals on his resume – three indoors, one outdoor – Cantwell knows how to deliver in a big meet and shouldn't be counted out in London.

Brown-Trafton wasn't even considered America's top discus thrower when she broke through with her victory at the 2008 Olympics. She hasn't reached the podium at a major international event since 2008, but she's thrown past 65 meters four times in 2012 – including her winning toss at the Olympic Trials – and heads to London hoping to defend her Olympic crown.

Other American athletes among the medal favorites at London include Wallace Spearmon, Tony McQuay, Nick Symmonds, Aries Merritt, Angelo Taylor, Ryan Whiting, Alysia Johnson Montano, Kellie Wells, Dawn Harper, Lashinda Demus, Lolo Jones, Jenn Suhr and Shalane Flanagan.