The stars of the Olympic Games: the 10 athletes everyone wants to see in Paris

The countdown to Olympic Games It’s almost over. Paris will host a new edition of the Olympics, an unmissable event for all the great stars who are constantly ready to write more pages in the history books.

Simone Biles

Artistic gymnastics (United States)

The North American is the most decorated gymnast in history and 37 medals between World Cups and Olympic Games back her up. Biles, with seven Olympic medals and four golds under her belt, will be looking to extend her legacy and join the seven gold club. She came into the event on a high note: she won the United States Championships for the ninth time, becoming the first gymnast (both male and female) to do so. One of the great attractions of Paris.

2

Diana Taurasi

Basketball (United States)

Taurasi is an insatiable competitor, and this was demonstrated by what will be his sixth appearance at the Olympic Games. Along with Sue Bird, they are the only players to have accumulated five Olympic gold medals in basketball, but Taurasi wants to use all the gas in the tank by winning another metal. Adding his sixth gold in six appearances would be an almost unparalleled milestone.

3

Leon Marchand

Swimming (France)

The five-time world champion will be the big star of the Paris pool, where he will compete for four gold medals in the 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly, 200m medley and 400m medley events. At 22 years old, Marchand arrives at the Olympics as the host and is in excellent form after winning three golds at the Fukuoka World Cup, where he broke Phelps’ last great record, the 400-meter medley.

4

Victor Wembanyama

Basketball (France)

The great rising star of French basketball will play in his first Games at the age of 20, and he will do it by being one of the references of the host team. Wembanyama was tipped to be a dominant basketball figure in the coming years in the NBA and came to the Olympic event with the pressure of taking home a medal. This is his first official presence in the French senior team.

5

Teddy Riner

Judo (France)

Three-time Olympic champion, eleven-time world champion and five-time European champion. Teddy Riner is a judo legend and one of the favorites to win two more Olympic golds: one in his +100 kg individual event and in the mixed teams. If he achieves one (or both), he will surpass Japan’s Tadahiro Nomura, who has three gold medals.

6

Aitana Bonmati

Soccer (Spain)

After winning the World Cup with the national team and four titles (out of four possible) with Barça last season, the one from Sant Pere de Ribes wants more. The reigning Ballon d’Or arrives at the Olympic Games focused on the one title that, surprisingly, he does not yet have in his collection: the Olympic gold medal. At the event in Paris, he has a unique opportunity to add another milestone to his record, and Spain has every chance to reach the top of the podium.

7

Carlos Alcaraz

Tennis (Spain)

The Murcian tennis player will arrive in Paris in unique form after winning his second straight Wimbledon against Novak Djokovic, who will be one of his main rivals for singles gold. The number 2 in the ATP ranking starts as the main rival to beat in the facilities of Roland Garros, where he also seeks a medal in doubles, a category in which he will form a duo with Rafa Nadal.

8

Armand Duplantis

Pole vault (Sweden)

Duplantis is one of the great stars of athletics and Paris will be a luxury showcase to continue showing it. The 24-year-old Swede already knows what it’s like to win gold at the Games and at the Diamond League, in Xiamen, he broke his previous mark by lifting a height of 6.24 meters. Unless you failed, the gold should fall into your hands. The sky is the limit for him.

9

LeBron James

Basketball (United States)

Paris will be LeBron James’ ‘Last Dance’ with Team USA. He has already made it clear that these Olympic Games will be his last appearance on the American team, and he will do so by competing for his third Olympic gold. At 39 years old, the man from Akron is nearing the end of his career and sees him lead Team USA to another gold that aims to be one of his last great achievements in a historic record.

10

Noah Lyles

Athletics (United States)

The one from Gainesville starts out as the great favorite for the queen of athletics. In 2017, Noah Lyles took over as one of the new realities of the speed world and is now considered the “fastest man in the world.” After winning triple gold (100 and 200 meters and relay) at the 2023 World Cup in Budapest, Paris is the new challenge for Lyles, who will be looking to take the crown on a stage as important as the Games.