Forty-nine swimmers will represent the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Of those, 28 are first-time Olympians.
And for a good number of those rookies, these Olympics mark the first time they are representing the U.S. on the international stage.
Here’s a guide to some of the newer faces breaking onto the big stage this week in London:
Cammile Adams
Event: 200m Butterfly
Background: Qualified for the Olympic Team by finishing first in the 200m butterfly at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Omaha, Neb. Finished her sophomore year at Texas A&M University, where she scored 29 points for the Aggies at the 2012 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, placing second and setting a school record in the 200 fly. She was a four-time member of USA Swimming’s National Junior Team and a two-time captain team captain.
Interesting Fact: Twin sister Ashley also swims at Texas A&M.
Alyssa Anderson
Event: 4x200 Free Relay
Background: Qualified for the Olympic Team by finishing sixth in the 200 freestyle at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Finished fourth in the 400m free at the 2011 World University Games. Won a silver medal swimming prelims of the 4x200m free relay at the 2009 World Championships in Rome. Captured silver medals in the 800m and 1500m free at the 2007 Junior Pan Pacific Championships.
Interesting Fact: Sister Haley also made the team and will be representing the U.S. in the 10k open water event.
Haley Anderson
Event: 10k Open Water
Background: Qualified for the Olympic Team by finishing first in the 10k qualifying race earlier this summer in Portugal. Won the 1500m free and finished second in the 800m free at the 2011 World University Games. Placed ninth in the 1500m free at the 2009 FINA World Championships. Placed first in the 800m and 1500m free at the 2009 Junior Pan Pacific Championships.
Interesting Fact: Sister Alyssa is also a member of the team. (See above).
Ra
chel Bootsma
Event: 100m Backstroke
Background: Qualified for the Olympic Team by finishing second in the 100m back at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Took sixth in the 100m back at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships. NAG record- holder in the 100m back.
Interesting Fact: Always wears the same earrings during meets.
Claire Donahue
Event: 100m Butterfly
Background: Qualified for the Olympic Team after finishing second in the 100m butterfly at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Won a gold medal and set a meet record in the 100m fly at the 2011 Pan American Games. Also won a gold medal and helped set a meet record as a member of the 4x100 medley relay at Pan Ams. Graduate of Western Kentucky University.
Interesting Fact: Works with a company called Evergreen that provides support to adults with developmental disabilities.
Breeja Larson
Event: 100m Breaststroke
Background: Qualified for the Olympic Team after winning the 100m breaststroke at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. A junior-to-be at Texas A&M, Larson won the 100 breast and finished third in the 200 breast at this year’s NCAAs. She finished her freshman at A&M season with four NCAA cuts and four school records and was runner-up in both the 100 and 200 breast at NCAAs.
Interesting Fact: The 2012 Olympic Trials marked the first time in her career that Larson tapered for a long course meet.
Micah Lawrence
Event: 200m Breast
Background: Qualified for the 2012 Olympic team by finishing second in the 200m breast at the 2012 Olympic Team Trials. Placed sixth in the 100m breast and seventh in the 50m breast at the 2011 World University Games. Micah was a member of the 2007 Junior PanPac team, where she earned bronze in the 200m breast.
Interesting Fact: Aspires to be a tattoo artist and magazine designer.
Katie Ledecky
Event: 800m Freestyle
Background: Qualified for the Olympic Team by finishing first in the 800 free at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Interesting Fact: At the age of 15, Ledecky is the youngest member of Team USA in all sports.
Lia Neal
Event: 4x100 Free Relay
Background: Qualified for the Olympic Team with a fourth-place finish in the 100 free at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Earned three gold medals as part of the 400m free relay, 800m free relay and 400m medley relay teams at the 2010 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, also earned individual silver in the 100m free and bronze in the 50m free.
Interesting Fact: Has three brothers: Rome, Treasure and Smile.
Lauren Per
due
Event: 4x200 Free Relay
Background: Qualified for the 2012 Olympic team by finishing fourth in the 200m free at Trials. Was the 2011 ACC Swimmer of the Year and Swimmer of the Championships at the University of Virginia.
Interesting Fact: Father, Philip, qualified for Olympic Trials but missed the team by half a second.
Shannon Vreeland
Event: 4x200m Free Relay
Background: Qualified for the 2012 Olympic team by finishing fifth in the 200m free at Trials. Won a silver medal in the 400 free relay at the 2011 World University Games.
Interesting Fact: Has a twin sister named Michelle. Reads for the blind and dyslexic.
Clark Burckle
Event: 200m Breast
Background: Qualified for the Olympic Team by finished second in the 200m breast at Trials. At the 2011 World University Games, finished eighth in the 200m breast. Finished Third in the 200m breast at the 2011 Pan American Games.
Interesting Fact: Older sister (Caroline) swam for Florida and was a member of the 2008 Olympic Team, younger brother (Collin) is a scratch golfer.
Conor Dwyer
Event: 400m Free and 4x200m Free Relay
Background: Qualified for the 2012 Olympic team by finishing second in the 400m free and fourth in the 200m free at Trials. Won gold in the 800 free relay, silver in the 200 and 400 IM at the 2011 Pan American Games.
Interesting Fact: Has a twin brother and one dog, a bullmastiff named Biggie.
Jimmy Feigen
Event: 4x100 Free Relay
Background: Qualified for the 2012 Olympic team by finishing fifth in the 100m free at Trials. Won the 50y and 100y free at the 2012 NCAA Championships. Collected three medals at the 2011 World University Games, including gold in the 100m free and 4x100m free relay and silver in the 4x100m medley relay.
Interesting Fact: A kinesiology major at the University of Texas, Feigen aspires to be an orthopedic surgeon.
Andrew Gemmell
Event: 1500m Freestyle
Background: Qualified for the 2012 Olympic team by finishing first in the 1500m free at Trials. Earned gold in the inaugural 5K open water team event at the 2011 FINA World Championships.
Interesting Fact: Began swimming at age 2. Swims 15,000 yards a day ... 2-4 hours a day ... 6 days a week.
Charlie Houchin
Event: 4x200 Free Relay
Background: Qualified for the 2012 Olympic team by finishing sixth in the 200m free at Trials. Won gold in the 400 free and the 800 free relay at the 2011 Pan American Games.
Interesting Fact: Enjoys television production and helps produce top-quality video projects for his high school. Interested in Naval Special Warfare.
Connor Jaeger
Event: 1500m Free
Background: Qualified for the 2012 Olympic team by finishing second in the 1500m free. It was his first Olympic Trials.
Interesting Fact: In the prelims of the 1500m free at Trials, Jaeger lost track of his lap count and swam an extra 100 meters after finishing first in his heat.
1500m Free
Background: Qualified for the 2012 Olympic team by finishing second in the 1500m free. It was his first Olympic Trials.
In the prelims of the 1500m free at Trials, Jaeger lost track of his lap count and swam an extra 100 meters after finishing first in his heat.
Matt McLean
Event: 4x200m Free
Background: Qualified for the 2012 Olympic team by finishing fifth in the 200m free at Trials. Won gold medals in the 200m free and 800m free relay at the 2011 World University Games.
Interesting Fact: Graduated with a degree in Socioloogy from the University of Virginia.
Scott Weltz
Event: 200m Breaststroke
Background: Qualified for the 2012 Olympic team by finishing first in the 200m breast at Trials. Swam with the now-defunct UC Davis program. Captured a pair of silver medals at the 2005 Junior Nationals in the 200m & 400m IM. Was 18th in the 400m IM 21st in the 200m IM at 2006 Nationals.
Interesting Fact: Weltz finished 38th in the 200 breast at the 2008 Olympic Trials.
: 200m Breaststroke
Qualified for the 2012 Olympic team by finishing first in the 200m breast at Trials. Swam with the now-defunct UC Davis program. Captured a pair of silver medals at the 2005 Junior Nationals in the 200m & 400m IM. Was 18th in the 400m IM 21st in the 200m IM at 2006 Nationals.
Weltz finished 38th in the 200 breast at the 2008 Olympic Trials.