London 2012: The Countdown Series: Australia

196 days until the London Olympics. Up next on the parade of nations: Australia (AUS). The host nation of the summer Olympics in 1956 (Melbourne) and 2000 (Sydney).

A summer Olympic powerhouse, the Australian subcontinent has garned 439 medals since their first summer Olympics in 1896 (first year of the modern Olympics), including 131 gold medals.

Of course, if you remember correctly, one of the big stories coming out of Beijing 2008 was the dominance in the water of one Stephanie Rice. The Queenslander scored three medals, including the 200m and 400m individual medleys. A couple years after Beijing, Rice lost her endorsement with Jaguar after she posted a tweet on twitter with a word that in today's world is derogatory toward homosexuals (you figure it out). She has been fighting through shoulder injuries that required surgery. No word where she will go from here.

Rice is part of one of the world's swimming programs that have been dominant over the years, not just in the Olympics, but elsewhere, such as the Fina World Championships. In fact, their 58 medals are second to the United States swim team in most medals earned in the swimming portion of the summer Olympics. To date, the most medals earned amongst Aussie swimmers are 5-Shane Gould and Ian Thorpe, with 3 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze each.

Speaking of the Thorpedo, he's quietly making a comeback. Or is he? Last attempted comeback was in 2006, but it failed. Now he's trying again, and possibly resume his rivalry with Michael Phelps ala Athens 2004. Thorpe to this day won three golds-all in his own backyard at Sydney in 2000, including the 400m freestyle.

But the swimming isn't what makes the Australian Olympic program successful, in a country that is dominated by a mixture of Australian Rules Football and rugby, there's also some bright spots as well in various sports. In fact, in athletics, we all seen the women's 110m hurdle final with Sally Pearson at Daegu in September. Pearson, expected to be a top contender in that race at London, smoked the field. What will we see out of the Queenslander in early August?

In all, 272 athletes will represent Australia in 15 sports (at the present time), and not just athletics (see Pearson) and swimming (as mentioned). Men's and women's (field) hockey, basketball (featuring Andrew Bogut?) and water polo have qualified.

Up next: Austria