If Southern California were an independent country, it would stand near the top of the Olympic medal rankings for the Beijing Games.
Athletes from this area, or those who train here, will return with plenty of hardware. Here's a sport-by-sport look at local athletes who have good chances to win a medal:
ARCHERY
Khatuna Lorig -- She's competing in her fourth Olympics, for her third country -- the former Soviet Union (unified team) in 1992, then the former Soviet state Georgia, and now as an L.A. resident.
AQUATICS
(swimming, diving, synchro, water polo)
SWIMMING
Amanda Beard -- Owns seven medals (two gold, four silver, one bronze) from three Olympics. Eighth is a longshot, but so was making the team.
Larsen Jensen -- USC alum qualified for the 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle races. Set an American record in the 400 at the trials, 3:43.53. Silver medalist at Athens in the 400.
Jason Lezak -- Has two gold medals, one silver and one bronze from last two Olympics. Will swim the 100 free and 400-meter freestyle relay.
Aaron Peirsol -- Irvine native will swim the 100 and 200 backstroke.
DIVING
Troy Dumais -- This will be the third Olympics for the Ventura native, who trains in Texas. He hasn't finished higher than sixth, and he will have to be perfect to dent Chinese divers' dominance.
WATER POLO
Men's
Tony Azevedo -- If the men's water polo team wins a medal, it will be because of this 26-year-old Stanford graduate from Long Beach. This three-time Olympian is a gifted scorer who ranked second in goals at Athens, with 15.
Women's
Heather Petri -- Long Beach resident is one of two three-time U.S. water polo Olympians on the women's team. An attacker, she played two professional seasons in Florence, Italy.
Brenda Villa -- Commerce native, 28, is captain of the women's water polo team and the squad's other three-time female Olympian. Played on boys' team at Bell Gardens High before leading Stanford to an NCAA title.
ATHLETICS
(what the rest of the world calls track and field)
Bryan Clay -- In good shape to repeat as Olympic decathlon champion. Glendora resident set a U.S. Olympic trials record of 8,832 points, best in the world this season.
Shawn Crawford -- He led a U.S. sweep of the 200 in Athens but subsequently struggled with injuries. Now coached by Bobby Kersee in Los Angeles.
