2012 Olympics: Team USA's Hottest Athletes!

USMagazine, Friday, July 27, 2012, 4:15pm (PDT)

Michael Phelps may have been USA's 2008 Beijing Olympics shining star, but from the looks of this Olympic lineup, there's definitely no shortage of record-breaking athletes.

PHOTOS: Team USA's athletes to watch

It doesn't look like swimmer Ryan Lochte will be comfortable taking a back seat to his champion teammate Phelps this time around. "I think overall, I'm just a lot older, smarter, and a better athlete than I was going into Beijing," the 27-year-old tells Us Weekly. "I changed my diet and I started doing heavier weight lifting."

PHOTOS: Ryan Lochte's hot body

Another name to watch out for is up-and-comer gymnast Gabby Douglas, who makes her Olympic debut this year at age 16. For the Virginia native, her accomplishment is a dream come true. "I loved watching the ABC Family show Make It Or Break It and saying to myself, 'I can do that!'" she tells Us. "It was kind of like watching a really cheesy version of my life -- but I loved it anyway!"

PHOTOS: Olympic athletes post-Games success

Click through Us Weekly's gallery of the athletes to watch!

Want more Olympics? Meet Team USA's families, go inside their homes (and gyms!), and more! Check out Us Weekly's Olympic collectors edition, "American Heroes," on newsstands now. Order at bn.com/usolympics.

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: 2012 Olympics: Team USA's Hottest Athletes!