American Olympic dynasties

Women's soccer
With their 2-1 victory over Japan, the U.S. women have won three straight gold medals in the Olympics. Here, Abby Wambach cheers after a goal by Carli Lloyd in the second half against Japan. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Women's beach volleyball
Gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings celebrate during the women's beach volleyball medal ceremony at the London Games. May-Treanor and Walsh have won three straight gold medals in the event for the U.S., dating back to the 2004 Athens Olympics. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Track: Men's 4x400 relay
American Manteo Mitchell runs in the heats of the men's 4x400m relays at the London Games. Mitchell actually broke his leg midway through his run but finished the relay to help the U.S. qualify for the finals. However, the U.S. came second in the final race to Bahamas, ending a gold streak they'd held since the 1972 Games. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Swimming: Men's medley relay
The U.S. has never lost this event, and this year was no different, with (left to right) Brendan Hansen, Matthew Grevers, Michael Phelps and Nathan Adrian continuing the country's unbeaten streak at the 2012 London Games. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Women's eight rowing
Members of the defending champion U.S. team receive their gold medals at the London Games. The U.S. has won six straight world championships starting in 2006. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Women's basketball
The U.S. women's basketball team has won every gold medal since the 1996 Games, and are on track to win their fifth straight Olympic title. (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Swimming: Men's 4x200m freestyle relay
The U.S. men have won this event since 2004, and repeated their feat in London. Michaelp Phelps and Ryan Lochte were members of all three teams. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Men's basketball
With the exception of the 2004 Games, when the U.S. settled for bronze, the Americans have won nothing but gold since the introduction of the "Dream Team" at the 1992 Games. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Swimming: Men's 200-meter butterfly
The U.S.has won this event since 2004, though that was due entirely to the one-man record machine that is Michael Phelps. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Women's gymnastics' individual all-around
The victory of Carly Patterson at the Athens 2004 Games began the U.S. stranglehold on the all-around title. (Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images)

Women's gymnastics' individual all-around
After Patterson, Nastia Liukin continuted the winning tradition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)

Women's gymnastics' individual all-around
The three-peat is completed by Gabrielle Douglas at the 2012 Olympics. She became the third straight U.S. woman to win the most coveted title in gymnastics. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)