The Olympic games are finally upon us, and we’ve compiled a list of 10 athletes you should keep your eyes on whether you’re watching live from Paris, your couch, a bar or the office.

Quincy Wilson - United States Track and Field

Photo from Ben Lonergan, The Register-Guard

Hailing from Gaithersburg, MD, Quincy Wilson will be the youngest athlete in United States history to compete on the men’s track and field team at just 16 years old. Leading up to the Olympics, Wilson broke a 46-year-old world record for the under-18 400-meter race with a time of 44.66 seconds; and if that wasn’t enough, Quincy crushed the record again, finishing with a time of 44.59 seconds. Wilson will be competing in the 4x400 meter relay race that will take place on Aug. 9. With the trail of shattered expectations left in the dust, it will be interesting to see how he fares on the world’s biggest and brightest stage.

Simone Biles - United States Gymnastics

Simone Biles is one of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history, with one of the most dominant streaks any athlete could have. Biles has been a household name for multiple Olympic cycles and is beloved by millions. However, during the tail end of the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, she stepped away from the competition prematurely due to physical and mental health concerns that could have severely affected her safety. With this decision came heavy scrutiny, as many called her a “quitter” and questioned her abilities at this point in her career. Three years removed from the controversy, and after winning gold in the team final, Biles has officially crowned herself as the most decorated gymnast in United States history.

Carlos Alcaraz - Spain Men's Tennis

Making his long-awaited debut on the Olympic stage, Carlos Alcaraz looks to be a dominant force for Spain’s tennis team. Having won four grand slams, including the illustrious Wimbledon and French Open tournaments, Alcaraz's early success combined with his style of play have made him a fan favorite coming into Paris. Along with competing in the singles, he will be performing alongside fellow Spanish legend Rafael Nadal in the duo matches. These two will undoubtedly spell trouble for any team they face and are the betting favorites to win gold. With youth and unbelievable talent on his side, we could be watching the start of a truly special multi-Olympic run for Alcaraz.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce - Jamaica Track and Field

Announcing that this will be her final Olympic games, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is a must-watch not only because of the speed that she can still display but, more importantly, for the prestige and legacy that she carries with her. With a fully decorated background, having won three gold medals, and being a 16-time world champion, it is nearly an obligation to watch this sports icon go out in style. In the 2024 Olympics, Fraser-Pryce will compete in the 4x100-meter relay race as Jamaica looks to defend its title. Missing fellow teammate and star Elaine Thompson-Herah will add adversity for team Jamaica, requiring Fraser-Pryce to dig deep to once again reach the mountain top.

South Sudan Men's Basketball

Photo from Michael Conroy, Associated Press

For this pick, I had to go with a full team rather than just a player. Coming from a war-riddled country that gained its independence only 13 years ago, South Sudan has assembled an impressive group of men poised to make noise in their Olympic debut. Spearheaded by a few familiar names such as Wenyen Gabriel, who played briefly in the NBA, as well as Carlik Jones, who won the G-League MVP in 2023, South Sudan put the world on notice when they nearly beat the United States in the exhibition games. Ultimately, it took Lebron James’ heroics to get the United States over the top by a single point. This South Sudanese team has the size and versatility, especially on the defensive side of the basketball, that can cause trouble for many of the top teams.

Noah Lyles - United States Track and Field

Widely regarded as the reason players such as Lebron James and Stephen Curry joined the United States basketball team with his highly controversial “world champion” comments, many people scoffed at Noah Lyles without realizing what a ridiculously talented athlete he is. With six world titles, the self-proclaimed “fastest man on the planet” has the hardware to back up his confident, sometimes cocky attitude. Lyles is best known for the 200-meter race, where he holds the world record at 19.13 seconds, which he took from his idol and previous fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt. In the 2024 Olympics, Lyles is set to continue his dominance and show the sports world that he is much more than a soundbite. Noah will compete in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4x100-meter relay races in Paris.

Katie Ledecky - United States Swimming

Similarly to Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky makes her fourth appearance on the Olympic stage with a chance to make history for women’s swimming. Coming into the Paris Olympics with 10 medals overall (seven being gold), she has the chance to break the record for the most medals in women’s swimming, which is currently in a three-way tie at 12. Ledecky will compete in the 400-meter free, 800-meter free, 1500-meter free, and the 4x200-meter free relay. If she wins a medal in three of the four events, she will cement her place atop the rankings of medalists in women’s swimming.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - Canada Men’s Basketball

When people make the case that the world is catching up to the United States regarding basketball, they tend to bring up players such as Nikola Jokic of Serbia, Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece, and Luka Doncic of Slovenia. These players have displayed superiority in the NBA, winning five of the last six MVP titles, and appearing in three of the last four finals, respectively. But, a player that is forcing his name into that conversation is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Coming in second place for MVP in the 2023-24 NBA season, Gilgeous-Alexander led one of the youngest teams in the league to the #1 seed in the Western Conference while averaging over 30 points a game. His impressive ability to score in many ways, combined with his surprising defensive ability and playmaking, means that Gilgeous-Alexander can hold his own against any player in this competition. Accompanied by fellow NBA players Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, and Dillon Brooks, among others, Gilgeous-Alexander can make a real statement by bringing home a gold medal for Canada.

Lee Kiefer - United States Fencing

Competing in her fourth Olympic games, Lee Kiefer stands tall as the United States’ ace fencer. Recognized as the United States women’s most decorated fencer, Kiefer will be competing to achieve yet another gold medal, which would have her tied for the most in the sport. Other accomplishments that Kiefer has achieved include being the first United States women’s fencer to be ranked #1 in the world, as well as the second United States women’s foil fencer to win a medal at the Senior World championship. Let’s see if Kiefer can continue her generational run and make history again.

Mijain Lopez - Cuba Wrestling

Rounding out our list of Olympic athletes is Mijain Lopez. Going on an unreal run of winning gold over four consecutive Olympics in the Greco-Roman super heavyweight wrestling division, Lopez looks to make history with his fifth consecutive gold medal, which would be the only time this feat has been accomplished in the same individual event. A multi-time flag bearer for Cuba, Lopez will rely on his experience to achieve the ultimate goal.

This concludes our list of top 10 athletes to watch in this year’s Olympics. However, with the 11,040 total athletes in play, any one of them could have a breakout performance and capture the eyes and hearts of the world. Between the historical context and the web of storylines that’ll potentially take place in the city of love, the 2024 Olympics is shaping up to be a fantastic event.

Athletes Continuing to Raise the Bar During the Paris Olympics 2024

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Athletes Continuing to Raise the Bar During the Paris Olympics 2024

Historical Moments from The 2024 Paris Olympics

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