More USA Women in 2012 Olympics than USA Men

If there's one statistic out even before the London Olympics begin next week, it's the number of women participating beating the number of men.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Title IX, which gave women equal opportunity in sport as compared to men on an athletic platform as well as educational in the '70s.

Through the decades we have seen an increasing number of women who not only join sports, but excel in them as well. From track and field to the WNBA, past Olympic games have not only seen an increase in female participants, but today a staggering number of women representing the United States. Quite simply, out-numbering the men competing. It's not a competition of gender as we cheer on our country, but a monumental achievement showing the direction women's sports is going.

The Huffington Post's, Marlo Thomas, says it best:

"What makes this amazing landmark even sweeter is that women weren't even allowed to compete in the modern Olympics until 1900 in Paris. That year, women's events in lawn tennis, croquet and golf were introduced; and at the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, women's athletics and gymnastics were added. Over the course of the next 84 years, women not only began to participate in the men's events, but dominate in many of them, as well. With the introduction of women's boxing this year, there is no Olympic event left that is exclusively for men."

Women to watch out for:

Track and Field: Lolo Jones and Allyson Felix

U.S.A. Basketball: Candace Parker, Maya Moore, Sue Bird

Swimming: Natalie Coughlin

Gymnastics: Jordyn Wieber

Beach Volleyball: Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh

Tennis: Serena and Venus Williams

Boxing: Marlen Esparza