Great figures to miss the Paris Games

The Paris Olympic Games will bring together the best athletes in every specialty, but not allas injuries, accidents or poor results in the qualifying stages kept some great numbers and teams from the event.

From Venezuelan athlete Yulimar Rojas to basketball player Kawhi Leonard, through the Brazilian soccer team, a handful of sports stars will miss the Games.

These are the main absentees:

Yulimar Rojas

Triple Jump, Venezuela

The reigning Olympic champion, world record holder and quadruple world champion suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in April, which prevented him from defending his title in Paris. The absence of Rojas, 28, leaves an important vacancy in the women’s triple jump, where she is the main favorite for gold.

2

Elaine Thompson-Herah

Athletics, Jamaica

Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah, 32 years old and quadruple winner of gold in 100 and 200 meters at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, said goodbye to Paris 2024 after an Achilles tendon injury in June.

3

Oksana Chusovitina

Gymnastics, Uzbekistan

The legendary Uzbek gymnast will miss her ninth Games due to an injury sustained during the Asian Gymnastics Championships in April. A heavy blow for the athlete, who is looking to bid farewell to the Olympic Games with a historic mark. Chusovitina, 49, one of the oldest and most decorated gymnasts in history, marked an era in artistic gymnastics.

4

Kelvin Kiptum

Athletics, Kenya

The Kenyan distance runner, world marathon record holder, died in a car accident in February, at the age of 24. Kiptum was one of the great promises of world athletics and his premature death shocked the world of sports.

5

Brazilian men’s soccer team

The ‘canarinha’ failed to qualify for Paris 2024 after losing to Argentina in the South American pre-Olympic, dashing their dream of a third consecutive Olympic Games gold medal.

6

Argentina men’s basketball team

The albiceleste will also not participate in the Olympic Games after not qualifying in the continental pre-Olympic. Figures like Campazzo, Laprovittola, Deck and Vildoza missed the event in Paris. Argentina, Olympic runner-up in 2004, will not participate in the Olympic Games. for the first time since Los Angeles 1984.

7

Kawhi Leonard

Basketball, United States

Leonard, winner of two NBA rings and one of the many stars of the ‘Dream Team’, is out due to various physical problems. Another great figure in the team, Kevin Durant – also a two-time NBA champion – has leg problems and missed several games in preparation, although for now he remains in the US camp.

8

Kylian Mbappé

Soccer, France

Although for many years he has expressed his desire to compete in the Olympic Games in his city, the French soccer star will not participate by the decision of his new club, Real Madri, and after competing in the recent Euro Cup in Germany .

9

Mireia Belmonte

Swimming, Spain

The 33-year-old Catalan swimmer, winner of four Olympic medals (two in London 2012 and another two in Rio 2016), did not qualify for the Paris Games due to the shoulder problems he suffered in recent years, that affected. their training and performance is his.

10

Tadej Pogacar

Cycling, Slovenia

Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar, who on Sunday won the Tour de France for the third time with a six-stage victory, has resigned from participating in the 2024 Paris Games to rest, the Slovenian Olympic committee announced on Monday.