Olympics

Former NBA star John Amaechi came out of the closet after his playing career was over, but with the recent announcements by celebs in other fields ... Amaechi doesn't feel we'll see an active athlete come out any time soon.

Amaechi, who is in London covering the Olympics for the BBC, told the world he was gay three years after he retired ... in his autobiography.

With the recent announcements by Anderson Cooper and Frank Ocean, we asked him if any pro atheletes would come out DURING their careers. Amaechi told us, "I definitely don't think you should hold your breath at this point."

So we ask ...

Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton will always be a golden girl.

Here's the 16-year-old gold medal winner back in 1984 (left) -- and 28 years later, the 44-year-old at an event in NYC earlier this year (right).

Tens across the board.

Michael Phelps' Olympic reign has come to an end -- he finished in fourth place in the 400 IM, not even getting a medal.

American Ryan Lochte took the gold, the first for the U.S. so far in this Olympics.

Phelps barely qualified for the event after securing the eighth and final spot in the race by out-touching Laszlo Cseh by .07 seconds.

Phelps has 16 Olympic medals to his name and holds the all-time record for most gold Olympic medals, 14, and the record for most gold medals in individual events with nine.

We shot Lochte a few months back at the airport ... and we might have called him a d-bag once or twice. No hard feelings?

The Olympics is a pretty safe place to be, but in case there's no security around when something bad goes down ... there's a Latvian judo champ wandering the streets ready to spring into action.

Our guy in London met Gasan Eldarov, a weightlifter/fitness model/trainer/judo star from Latvia ... who told us that if he saw a crime being committed, he'd handle things himself.

Gasan explained, "I just break the neck, ya know? No problems."

One small problem ... we can't find any mention of Gasan on any Olympic website.

Before they start passing out gold at the 2012 London Olympics, can you guess which super stud athletes are behind these historic heavy-medal photos?!

U.S. Olympic swimmers Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps are teammates and rivals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Question is ...

As if he couldn't get any hotter, soccer stud David Beckham just cruised into the Olympic Opening Ceremonies in London on Friday ... driving a speed boat with the Olympic Torch on board.

No one can light up a room an Olympic Stadium like Beckham.

Being the fastest man in the world requires Usain Bolt to undergo a vigorous stretching regimen for the Olympics.

During a practice session in London on Thursday, the 25-year-old Jamaican three-time Olympic gold medalist got all the kinks worked out by being pulled, prodded and manhandled by trainers.

Muhammad Ali ... the GREATEST of All Time ... has arrived in London for the 2012 Summer Games ... 52 years after winning his own gold medal.

Ali was spotted leaving his hotel Tuesday with some help from his wife Lonnie (left).

There are rumors Ali will have a role in the opening ceremonies on Friday ... but so far, no one has confirmed one way or the other.