Rio Olympics: U.S. expectations high for large medal haul in Rio

Spectacular Day: Rio de Janeiro lights up during the Opening Ceremony of 2016 Rio Olympic Games

Gymnast Simone Biles is the smallest member of the U.S. Olympic team at a compact but powerful 4 feet, 8 inches tall. By the time the Rio Games end, she might tower above her peers as the biggest star of the Olympics — and might lead Team USA to a medals bonanza.

Biles, who has won the last three world all-around championships, is expected to contend for five gold medals when the gymnastics competition begins Saturday. The U.S. men’s and women’s gymnastics teams combined to win six medals at the 2012 London Games as part of Team USA’s 103 medals.

Photogenic and dynamic, Biles could triumph in the all-around and team events as well as in individual competitions on vault, floor exercise and balance beam. Some of her toughest rivals might be her teammates, specifically Aly Raisman and electrifying floor-exercise specialist Laurie Hernandez, 16.

Biles said she and her teammates are prepared for anything, but it's clear she's still an impressionable kid. "It's the Olympics. If you think about it, your brain is going to fall out. Like you're going to freak out," she said. 

U.S. athletes are positioned to improve on the 2012 medal total in such diverse sports as fencing, track and field, archery and water polo. Swimming likely will produce a large percentage of medals, as it always does, with Michael Phelps returning for what he has said will be his final Olympics. 

The most decorated athlete in Olympic history— 18 gold medals and 22 overall—will draw worldwide attention every time he steps onto the pool deck, perhaps never more than when he faces longtime teammate and rival Ryan Lochte in the 200-meter individual medley. The final of that event—assuming both make it—will be on Aug. 11.

Source: Los Angeles Times