They've put in innumerable hours of sweat, blood and tears to get where they are. They are among the best of the best and are ready to prove their mettle.
There are 529 athletes from 45 states who will represent the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
They are competing in events as diverse as athletics, fencing, rowing, soccer and basketball. For everyone, from swimmer Katie Ledecky, 15, to equestrian jumper Karen O’Connor, 54, these Games represent the culmination of all the hard work and dedication they've put in to win the coveted medal.
It's time to meet the Olympians from Patch towns in California.
First, meet a few Olympians from Lamorinda and the Diablo Valley, and then some quick facts about your California Olympians.
LAMORINDA OLYMPIANS
Swimmer
Competing: 400 freestyle relay
From: Lafayette
Sex: Female
Water Polo/Attacker
From: Orinda/Long Beach
DIABLO VALLEY OLYMPIANS
Sex : Male
Competing in Diving
Event / position / class : 3m synchro
Age : 19
From : Clayton
Sex : Female
Competing in Synchro Swimming
Event / position / class : Duet
Age : 22
From : Concord
Melissa Seidemann
Sex : Female
Competing in Water Polo
Event / position / class : Defender
Age : 22
From : Walnut Creek (graduated from College Park High, Pleasant Hill; now attending Stanford University)
OTHER CALIFORNIA OLYMPIANS
Tumua Anae
Sex : Female
Competing in Water Polo
Event / position / class : Goalkeeper
Age : 23
From : Newport Beach
Tony Azevedo
Sex : Male
Competing in Water Polo
Event / position / class : Attacker
Age : 30
From : Long Beach
Howard Bach
Sex : Male
Competing in Badminton
Event / position / class : Doubles
Age : 33
From : San Francisco
Ryan Bailey
Sex : Male
Competing in Athletics
Event / position / class : 100m
Age : 23
From : Long Beach
Ryan Bailey
Sex : Male
Competing in Water Polo
Event / position / class : Center
Age : 36
From : Long Beach
Keshia Baker
Sex : Female
Competing in Athletics
Event / position / class : Relays
Age : 24
From : Fairfield
Layne Beaubien
Sex : Male
Competing in Water Polo
Event / position / class : Defender
Age : 36
From : Coronado
Jillian Camarena- Williams
Sex : Female
Competing in Athletics
Event / position / class : Shot Put
Age : 30
From : Woodland
Tyson Chandler
Sex : Male
Competing in Basketball
Event / position / class : Center
Age : 29
From : Compton
Annika Dries
Sex : Female
Competing in Water Polo
Event / position / class : Center
Age : 20
From : Laguna Beach
Jan Ebeling
Sex : Male
Competing in Equestrian
Event / position / class : Dressage - Individual, Team
Age : 53
From : Moorpark
Scott Gault
Sex : Male
Competing in Rowing
Event / position / class : Four
Age : 29
From : Piedmont
Sarah Hammer
Sex : Female
Competing in Cycling
Event / position / class : Track - Omnium, Team Pursuit
Age : 28
From : Temecula
James Harden
Sex : Male
Competing in Basketball
Event / position / class : Guard
Age : 22
From : Lakewood
Jessica Hardy
Sex : Female
Competing in Swimming
Event / position / class : 50m free; 100m free; 400m free relay
Age : 25
From : Long Beach
Russell Holmes
Sex : Male
Competing in Volleyball
Event / position / class : Middle Blocker
Age : 30
From : Fountain Valley
Tim Hutten
Sex : Male
Competing in Water Polo
Event / position / class : Defender
Age : 27
From : Seal Beach
Kibwe Johnson
Sex : Male
Competing in Athletics
Event / position / class : Hammer Throw
Age : 31
From : San Francisco
Jennifer Kessy
Sex : Female
Competing in Volleyball
Event / position / class : Beach
Age : 34
From : San Juan Capistrano
Kara Kohler
Sex : Female
Competing in Rowing
Event / position / class : Quadruple Sculls
Age : 21
From : Clayton
Chay Lapin
Sex : Male
Competing in Water Polo
Event / position / class : Goalkeeper
Age : 25
From : Long Beach
Esther Lofgren
Sex : Female
Competing in Rowing
Event / position / class : Eight
Age : 27
From : Newport Beach
Khatuna Lorig
Sex : Female
Competing in Archery
Event / position / class : Recurve - Individual, Team
Age : 38
From : West Hollywood
Paul Lotman
Sex : Male
Competing in Volleyball
Event / position / class : Outside Hitter
Age : 26
From : Lakewood
John Mann
Sex : Male
Competing in Water Polo
Event / position / class : Center
Age : 27
From : Newport Beach
McKayla Maroney
Sex : Female
Competing in Gymnastics
Event / position / class : Artistic
Age : 16
From : Long Beach
Alexander Massialas
Sex : Male
Competing in Fencing
Event / position / class : Foil - Individual, Team
Age : 18
From : San Francisco
Samuel Mikulak
Sex : Male
Competing in Gymnastics
Event / position / class : Artistic
Age : 19
From : Newport Beach
Alex Morgan
Sex : Female
Competing in Soccer
Event / position / class : Forward
Age : 23
From : Diamond Bar
Julie Nichols
Sex : Female
Competing in Rowing
Event / position / class : Lightweight Double Sculls
Age : 34
From : Livermore
Alex Osborne
Sex : Male
Competing in Rowing
Event / position / class : Quadruple Sculls
Age : 25
From : Sherman Oaks
Megan Rapinoe
Sex : Female
Competing in Soccer
Event / position / class : Midfield
Age : 27
From : Redding
Amy Rodriguez
Sex : Female
Competing in Soccer
Event / position / class : Forward
Age : 25
From : Lake Forest
Sean Rosenthal
Sex : Male
Competing in Volleyball
Event / position / class : Beach
Age : 32
From : Hermosa Beach
Kyla Ross
Sex : Female
Competing in Gymnastics
Event / position / class : Artistic
Age : 15
From : Aliso Viejo
Shannon Rowbury
Sex : Female
Competing in Athletics
Event / position / class : 1500m
Age : 27
From : San Francisco
Jesse Smith
Sex : Male
Competing in Water Polo
Event / position / class : Utility
Age : 29
From : Coronado
Jessica Steffens
Sex : Female
Competing in Water Polo
Event / position / class : Defender
Age : 25
From : Danville
Maggie Steffens
Sex : Female
Competing in Water Polo
Event / position / class : Defender
Age : 19
From : Danville
Chloe Sutton
Sex : Female
Competing in Swimming
Event / position / class : 400m free
Age : 20
From : Mission Viejo
Brian Thornton
Sex : Male
Competing in Volleyball
Event / position / class : Setter
Age : 27
From : San Clemente
Zach Vlahos
Sex : Male
Competing in Rowing
Event / position / class : Eight
Age : 23
From : Piedmont
Rena Wang
Sex : Female
Competing in Badminton
Event / position / class : Singles
Age : 20
From : Arcadia
Lauren Wenger
Sex : Female
Competing in Water Polo
Event / position / class : All-Around
Age : 28
From : Long Beach
Russell Westbrook
Sex : Male
Competing in Basketball
Event / position / class : Guard
Age : 23
From : Long Beach
Adam Wright
Sex : Male
Competing in Water Polo
Event / position / class : Attacker
Age : 35
From : Seal Beach
Erica Wu
Sex : Female
Competing in Table Tennis
Event / position / class : Team
Age : 16
From : Arcadia
Lily Zhang
Sex : Female
Competing in Table Tennis
Event / position / class : Singles, Team
Age : 16
From : Palo Alto
Looking for a way to celebrate the Olympics locally? You can find local events for Olympic Fun Day on July 28 on the Let’s Move website, which has a page about how to set up your own local Olympics.
Also check out our Directory and Events Calendar for listings of places where you can learn and participate in Olympic sports ranging from basketball to karate, gymnastics, swimming and more.
