America to send record numbers to Olympics

Led by swim star Michael Phelps, the United States are sending their biggest ever team, 555 athletes, to the Rio de Janeiro Games, the nation's Olympic Committee (USOC) said on Saturday.

The team boasts 263 men and 292 women, the most women who have ever competed for one country at one Olympics.

"I am especially excited for the historic achievement of our women's delegation, which is a true testament to the strength and growing number of women's sport opportunities in the United States," USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun said.

Phelps is the most successful Olympian of all time with 18 gold medals, and will be swimming in his fifth Games. Equestrian Phillip Dutton and shooters Emil Milev and Kim Rhode will even see their sixth Olympics.

USOC said the US athletes will be represented in 27 sports and in 244 of the 306 medal events at the August 5-21 Games.