The Olympic Games are known for being the biggest event in the world where any athlete can participate and excel, as well as write their name in golden letters in the history of the sport worldwide, and especially in the history of the nation they represent. The Paris 2024 Games are expected to feature many protagonists who will delight fans with their good level, performance, and ambition to win a medal.
Here is a list of the athletes who have the opportunity to make an even more impressive legacy at Paris 2024 and who sports fans around the world cannot miss during the entire month of the Olympic event:
Simone Biles
Simone Biles is arguably, and almost a given, the greatest artistic gymnast in history, winner of 37 world and Olympic medals. The US-born athlete returns to the big top of the Olympic stage after a somewhat limited and short participation in Tokyo 2020 when she claimed mental health problems and had to withdraw early.
However, the story is different now and after two years without competing, Biles is emerging as one of the favorites to be crowned champion at this year’s Olympic edition and to win the all-around competition at the United States Championships for the 9th time, becoming the first gymnast in the men’s and women’s categories to achieve this feat.
LeBron James
Talking about LeBron James is talking about one of the best basketball players of all time and, in the eyes of many, the one who surpassed Michael Jordan with that title. Although he has 39 years of age on his shoulders, the so-called ‘King’ has been in charge of spearheading the United States Dream Team that will be in Paris in 2024.
With two gold medals already won in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, as well as a bronze in Athens 2004, LeBron James will be the standard-bearer for the US delegation and one of the athletes to simply follow at this year’s Games.
Leon Marchand
At home, Leon will have the spotlight on him and the overwhelming support in the stands and in every home in France. At just 22 years of age, he surpassed the record held by American Michael Phelps in the 400 meters, a mark that had been unbroken since 2008 and which Phelps himself acknowledged when he raised his arm after he had beaten the record.
Leon will be competing in the 200-meter butterfly, 200-meter breaststroke, and 200-meter and 400-meter medley events.
Carlos Alcaraz
At just 21 years of age and having already won a total of four Grand Slam titles, Carlos Alcaraz is currently the face of tennis worldwide and the man to beat to obtain a gold medal at Paris 2024. Yes, he is ranked third overall in the world, but he is still the leading candidate to win the long-awaited gold, having won in Paris in 2024 after defeating Alexander Zverev in the Roland Garros final.
The man from Murcia also has a clear goal of aiming for individual gold, but he also has his hopes set on a doubles event, where he will share the court with a living legend, Rafael Nadal.
Armand Duplantis
The 24-year-old Swede is a sure bet to have a high-level Olympic Games in Paris and some very outstanding performances without a doubt. He is currently the defending Olympic gold medalist and holder of the world record, which he broke eight times to reach a total of 6.24 meters three months before the Olympic Games. Born in the United States, he has two world gold medals indoors and outdoors in pole vaulting and is considered one of the wonders of current athletics.
Noah Lyles
The world’s top sprinter today will not only be looking to win his first Olympic gold medal in Paris, but he also has his sights set on Usain Bolt’s records in the men’s 100 meters (9.69 seconds) and 200 meters (19.30 seconds). Lyles is projected to be the star of the sprinters and wants to repeat the historic triple of the 2023 Budapest World Cup, where thanks to his great performance he was able to win gold in the 100, 200, and 4 x 100 metre relay.
Faith Kipyegon
A specialist in middle-distance events, the Kenyan athlete had a simply impressive 2023 in terms of competitions, where she broke three world track records in three events in less than 50 days. She is currently a double gold medalist at the Rio 2026 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the 1500-meter event and her main mission and objective is to repeat in Paris the feat achieved at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, where she was consecrated and obtained the title of being the first woman to win the double by being crowned in the 1500 m and 5000 m.
