olympics

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, it takes an artist like David Cerny to remind you that you haven’t. The Czech artist has created one of the biggest, coolest, and weirdest things for visitors wandering around outside the Czech Olympic headquarters in London. It’s big, it’s red, and it does push-ups.

While soccer isn’t nearly as popular here as it is in other parts of the world, it seems to get its due in the US during the Olympics, at least. And when the women’s national soccer team won gold after a hotly-contested battle against Brazil at the 2008 Games in Beijing, its members became superstars.

It’s not uncommon for two siblings to excel at the same sport growing up, and for some select few that excellence can translate into Olympic success.

With the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games coming up soon, we thought we’d take a glimpse at some of the American superstars who have claimed Olympic glory in the past.

At 27 years old, swimmer Michael Phelps is at the top of his game. He’s won countless honors, awards and medals during his career, leading some to describe him as the greatest athlete in history to ever grace the sport.

South African sprinter and double amputee Oscar Pistorius was named to his country’s Olympic team on Thursday, becoming the first amputee ever to compete in the Games.

For more than a decade, Michael Phelps has been the undisputed star of male competitive swimming. But that may change when 27-year-old Ryan Lochte competes at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London and vies for the title of the fastest swimmer alive. To get to know this athlete better, here are 10 things you may not know about the Olympic hopeful.

The upcoming 2012 Summer Olympics marks 40 years since 11 Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. In commemoration, the Israeli government and two US Congressmen asked for a moment of silence at this summer’s event, only to have the International Olympic Committee reject the proposal.

If you’re an athlete who’ll be competing at this year’s Olympic games in London, don’t be offended if the 550 British competitors won’t shake your hand. It’s nothing personal — they’re just afraid you might have cooties.