(Chris Helgren/Reuters)

After months of hype the 2012 London Summer Olympics are finally here! While I was reading the Red Eye today during my morning commute, I came across the page listing out the Illinois Olympians participating in London. And you thought your High School/College war stories were brag worthy – ha!

Here are the list of our home-state Olympians repping the IL:

Lance Brooks
Sex : Male
Competing in Athletics
Event / position / class : Discus Throw
Age : 28
From : Springfield

Kelci Bryant
Sex : Female
Competing in Diving
Event / position / class : 3m synchro
Age : 23
From : Chatham

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Ellis Coleman
Sex : Male
Competing in Wrestling
Event / position / class : Greco-Roman 60kg
Age : 20
From : Oak Park

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Anthony Davis
Sex : Male
Competing in Basketball
Event / position / class : Forward
Age : 19
From : Chicago

(Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images South America

Conor Dwyer
Sex : Male
Competing in Swimming
Event / position / class : 400m free;800m free relay
Age : 23
From : Winnetka

Matt Grevers
Sex : Male
Competing in Swimming
Event / position / class : 100m back; 400m free relay
Age : 27
From : Lake Forest

Courtesy of Getty Images

Andre Iguodala
Sex : Male
Competing in Basketball
Event / position / class : Guard/Forward
Age : 28
From : Springfield

(Scott Olmos-US PRESSWIRE)

Evan Jager
Sex : Male
Competing in Athletics
Event / position / class : 3,000m steeplechase
Age : 23
From : Algonquin

(Friedemann Vogel/Getty Images Europe

Amy LePeilbet
Sex : Female
Competing in Soccer
Event / position / class : Defenseman
Age : 30
From : Crystal Lake

(Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images)

Candace Parker
Sex : Female
Competing in Basketball
Event / position / class : Forward/Center/Guard
Age : 26
From : Naperville

Sean Rooney
Sex : Male
Competing in Volleyball
Event / position / class : Outside Hitter
Age : 29
From : Wheaton

Bob Willis
Sex : Male
Competing in Sailing
Event / position / class : Men’s Windsurf
Age : 25
From : Chicago

It’s crazy to think we could have potentially grown-up or met one of these Olympians at a local grocery store or park at some point in our lives (I would say local bar, but Olympians are too busy being awesome to consume alcohol). Let’s make sure to tune in and cheer for our home-state heroes! Opening ceremonies start tonight at 9 PM London time, but no live showing of the event will be available for viewers in the United States. Instead, NBC is showing a tape-delayed version in the U.S. at 7:00 PM ET – 6 PM CT .