Few sporting events capture the public imagination like the Olympics, and with the Paris Olympics 2024 around the corner, all eyes will be on the world’s greatest athletes as they compete for medals once more. Athletes from every country on earth will compete across a variety of sports and events for their chance to take home gold from the French capital and write their names into the history books.

From hosts France and the United States to regular heavyweights China and Great Britain, plenty of nations will be looking to top the medal table with impressive performances. So let's take a look at the top 10 athletes to watch out for at Paris Olympics 2024. 

Also Read: Indian Debutants to watch out for in Paris Olympics 2024

1. Simone Biles (Gymnastics)

Simone Biles has a great chance at the Paris Olympics 2024 to unite what is perhaps the weakest leg of her stardom, the Olympic one. Although she is the most decorated gymnast in history, with 37 medals in world championships and the Olympic Games, only seven of them are in five-ring events and, of those seven, four are gold. In addition, all of those golds were won in Rio 2016, while in Tokyo she won a silver and a bronze.

2. Sha'Carri Richardson (Athletics)

Having missed out on the Tokyo Olympics 2020 through suspension after an adverse drug test, the sprinter has ensured she has kept expectations in check since, returning with a slew of impressive performances as she looks to put the ghosts of what could have been to rest.

The 23-year-old will be one of Team USA’s flagship names after winning three medals at the World Championships last year. The Olympic debutant will be firmly among the favourites to pick up at least one, and maybe more when she takes to the track in France.

3. Neeraj Chopra (Javelin Throw)

Winning a Grand Slam title is something most tennis players dream of from the day they start swinging their racquet. Despite the difficulty of winning a grand slam tournament, a select few have dominated on the biggest stage throughout the years. The past two decades, in particular, have seen certain players cement their place in history by winning a record number of grand slam titles. In 2025, the battle for those records continues, with Wimbledon taking place between June 30 and July 13.

Let's take a look those tennis players with most Grand Slam titles in men's tennis.

Also Read: Tennis Record: Most wins in Wimbledon (men's)

Most Grand Slam Titles in Men's Tennis

1. Novak Djokovic | 24 Grand Slam Titles

Novak Djokovic is one of the greatest tennis players in history. He has a record 24 men's singles Grand Slam titles. The Serbian tennis great also became the third men's player to win 100 ATP Tour titles. Djokovic is the only man to hold all four Slam singles titles at the same time since Rod Laver's 1969 calendar Grand Slam.

2. Rafael Nadal | 22 Grand Slam Titles

Rafael Nadal comes second on this list, winning 22 men’s singles Grand Slams, only behind Novak Djokovic. More than half of them came at one Slam and on one surface that the Spaniard became synonymous with: the French Open. No player has won more than Nadal’s 14 Roland-Garros titles throughout a dominant 18-year span, in which the king of clay defended his crown 10 times and recorded an unbelievable 97% win percentage.

3. Roger Federer | 20 Grand Slam Titles

Swiss great Roger Federer is one of the most decorated men's tennis stars. Federer won his first-ever grand slam title in 2003 & became the first men's singles player to reach the milestone of 20 grand slam titles and also eclipsed the record of 14 grand slams held by Pete Sampras during this quest. He has won 6 AO Open, 1 french Open, 8 Wimbledon & 5 U.S Open Titles. Federer won his last Grand Slam Title in 2018. He announced his retirement in 2022.

4. Pete Sampras | 14 Grand Slam Titles

Pete Sampras won 14 major singles titles during his career, which was an all-time record at the time of his retirement: a then-record seven Wimbledon titles, two Australian Opens, and a joint Open Era record of five US Open titles. He won 64 singles titles in total. He was the first to reach world No 1.9. 

Also Read: Most Matches Played in Grand Slam

5. Roy Emerson | 12 Grand Slam Titles

Roy Emerson was a Champion whose career bridged the amateur and Open eras. The Aussie great won his 12th Grand Slam singles title at the French Open Championship against countryman Tony Roche. His haul of 28 Grand Slam titles (12 singles, 16 doubles) is a record for men's tennis. Emerson is also the only man to win singles and doubles titles in all four majors.

With his third-round win over Miomir Kecmanovic at Wimbledon 2025, the 7-time champion Novak Djokovic has registered his 100th win in the tournament's history. He has now become the third player ever to win 100 games at Wimbledon. 

Before Novak, Martina Navratilova and eight-time champion Roger Federer had achieved this feat. Roger, with 105 wins, has the tennis record for most wins at Wimbledon. 

Today, in this article, we will discuss the players with the most wins at Wimbledon in men's events. 

10. Stefan Edberg & Goran Ivanisevic | 49 wins

Both Stefan Edberg and Goran Ivanisevic have registered 49 wins in their career at Wimbledon. They both thus have a place at Number 10 on our list.

Stefan, the Swedish star and former World No.1, won 6 Grand Slam titles in his career. Among those 6 titles, two were at Wimbledon - one in 1988 and another in 1990. Stefan also won the Gold medal in the 1984 Olympics. 

In his career, Stefan played 61 matches at Wimbledon and won 49 of them. He retired in 1996.

On the other hand, Croatian Goran Ivanisevic only won one Grand Slam title in his career, that too at Wimbledon in 2001. The left-handed smasher won 22 titles in his career and reached a career-best of World No. 2 in 1994. 

Goran Ivanisevic played 15 seasons at Wimbledon and took 63 games to win 49 games. 

9. Bjorn Borg | 48 wins

Borg, one of the greatest Swedish tennis players in history, comes at No. 9 on our list of players with the most wins at Wimbledon. 

The 11-time Grand Slam winner remained No.1 in the World for 109 weeks. Borg won five consecutive Wimbledon titles from 1976 to 1980.

Borg only played 9 seasons at Wimbledon and went on to win the tournament 5 times. His 92.7% win record will hardly match ever again. He won 51 of the 55 matches he played at Wimbledon.

Read Also | Djokovic vs Nadal vs Federer: Tennis Title Battle

8.  Rafael Nadal | 58 wins

There would be hardly any tennis record article where you would not find the Spanish legend, Rafael Nadal. 

Nadal, one of the greatest ever tennis players, won 22 Grand Slams in his career. Although he dominated most of the grand slams multiple times, Nadal conquered the grass only twice in 2008 and 2010.

Nadal is one of the very few tennis players to achieve the Golden Slam in his career by winning all the Grand Slams and the Olympic gold medal.

At Wimbledon, he played 70 matches and won 58 of them.

Read Also | Djokovic vs Nadal vs Federer: Tennis Title Battle

7. John McEnroe | 59 wins

At No.7 on our list, we have another southpaw tennis player, John McEnroe from USA.  

McEnroe won three Wimbledon titles in 1981, 1983, and 1984. In all, in his 18 seasons as a tennis player, he won 7 Grand Slam titles. 

If it were not for Bjorn Borg, he would have won more Grand Slam titles. McEnroe played 70 games at Wimbledon and won 59 games, with a percentage of 84.3%.

6. Andy Murray | 61 wins

Andy Murray is the only British player in the Open era to win Wimbledon. Part of the 'Big Four', Murray is the only player, male or female, to win consecutive Olympic gold medals.

If it were not for the dominance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, Murray would have finished with more than the 3 Grand Slams he won in his career. 

Murray won Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016 and won 61 of 74 matches he played in his career in the tournament.

Read Also | Most Olympic Gold medals in Tennis history (Men's)

5. Pete Sampras | 63 wins

Before Roger Federer, if there was anyone whom the tennis world used to know for elegance and class, it was the USA's Pete Sampras. 

Sampras, in his career, won 14 Grand Slam titles, among which seven came at Wimbledon. Before Roger Federer broke it, Sampras, with 7 Wimbledon titles, was the most successful player in Wimbledon's history. 

From 1993 to 2000, in eight years, Pete Sampras won 7 Wimbledon titles, barring once in 1996. 

In 70 matches on grass, Pete won 63 matches with a win percentage of 90%.

4.  Boris Becker | 71 wins

Boris Becker with 71 wins at Wimbledon is the only German player to be on this list. 

Becker, one of the strongest and fiercest tennis players of the last century, won 6 Grand Slams in his career. In 15 seasons at Wimbledon, the German star won the tournament thrice - 1985, 1986 and 1989. 

At Wimbledon, Becker played 83 matches and won 71 of them to finish as the player with the fourth most wins in the tournament's history. Becker and Edberg had a great rivalry in the late 1980s. 

3. Jimmy Connors | 84 wins

Connors, another star of the 1970s and 1908s, won 8 Grand Slam titles in his career, among which two came at Wimbledon.

The left-handed tennis star from the USA won Wimbledon in 1974 and 1982. The former World No.1 spent 268 weeks as the best male tennis player in the world. 

Connors played 21 seasons at Wimbledon and played 102 matches in the tournament. With a win percentage of 82.4%, Connors won 84 matches at Wimbledon, to finish at No.3 on our list. 

2. Novak Djokovic | 100* wins

With his third-round win over Miomir Kecmanovic at Wimbledon 2025, Novak Djokovic now has become the second male tennis player to win 100 matches at Wimbledon. 

Djokovic, the 7-time Wimbledon and 24 Grand Slam Winner, is arguably the most successful tennis player of all time. Part of the 'Big Four', Djokovic outlasted his competitors Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray in longevity to become the player with the most grand slam titles and wins. 

The 38-year-old Serbian remained World No.1 for a record 428 weeks while dominating the whole tennis world.

Djokovic won the Wimbledon title in 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. 

He played in 19 seasons at Wimbledon and won 100 matches while losing only 12 till now. He is the only player in tennis history to have 90+ wins at every Slam.

Novak was the latest to win the career Golden Slam after winning the 2024 Olympics gold medal. 

Read Also | Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz head-to-head stats

1. Roger Federer | 105 wins

Just like many other tennis records, Roger Federer tops this record as well. With 105 wins, Roger Federer is the player with the most matches won in Wimbledon history. 

Roger won a record eight Wimbledon titles in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2017. The Swiss legend remained World No.1 for 310 weeks, which was once a record before Novak broke that.

The 20 Grand Slams winner played 22 seasons at Wimbledon and lost only 14 matches while winning 105 during those seasons. Roger has a winning percentage of 88.2% at Wimbledon. 

India has had many Olympic heroes, but when the conversation turns to the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) among Indian Olympians, two names dominate - Abhinav Bindra and Neeraj Chopra. Both have made history in their own right, but who truly deserves the GOAT crown? Let's compare them across several key dimensions.

Also Read: Best Indian Performances in Olympic History

Abhinav Bindra vs Neeraj Chopra: Olympic Achievement

Abhinav Bindra

• Gold Medal - 2008 Beijing Olympics (10m Air Rifle)
• India’s first-ever individual Olympic gold medalist
• Participated in five Olympics (2000–2016)

Abhinav Bindra will forever hold a place in sporting history as India's first individual gold medallist at the Olympics. The gold medal in the men's 10m air rifle at Beijing 2008 was the crowning glory in Abhinav Bindra's stellar sporting career.

Neeraj Chopra

• Gold Medal - 2020 Tokyo Olympics (Javelin Throw)
• India’s first Olympic medal in athletics, and only the second individual gold
• Silver Medal - 2024 Paris Olympics (Javelin Throw)

Despite his young age, Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has already etched his name in the history books by becoming the first and only track and field athlete from the country to win an Olympic medal, that too a gold.

Chopra’s gold medal at Tokyo 2020 was also India’s second individual Olympic gold medal after shooter Abhinav Bindra’s 10m air rifle glory at Beijing 2008.

In 2024 Paris Games, Chopra once again made India proud at the Olympics, this time securing a Silver medal in the men's javelin throw event. Neeraj did this with his season-best throw of 89.45m.

Also Read: Timeline: India’s rise at the Olympics

Abhinav Bindra vs Neeraj Chopra: Global Achievement

Abhinav Bindra

• Former World Champion (2006) in 10m air rifle
• Consistently ranked among the best shooters globally
• Known for scientific precision and longevity in his sport

Bindra holds the distinction of being the first Indian to win a World Championship gold in air rifle shooting.

Over his two-decade-long career, Bindra won over 150 individual medals, earning recognition as one of India’s greatest sports icons. His exceptional service to sport was further acknowledged when he was awarded the Blue Cross in 2018, the highest honour by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).

Neeraj Chopra

• World Champion (2023) in javelin - the only Indian to win both Olympic and World Championship gold
• Also won Asian Games and Diamond League titles
• Still active and dominating a highly competitive field

Even looking beyond the medals and major wins, Neeraj Chopra’s numbers speak for themselves. Since 2012, Neeraj Chopra has appeared in finals over 76 different javelin throw competitions, both in India and abroad, and won a whopping 42 of them outright.

Also Read: Most medals by an Indian in a single Olympics

Neeraj Chopra’s best throw, a national record, measures 90.23m and came at the Doha Diamond League in 2025.

India's journey in Olympic Games began in 1900, but for many decades, success was limited. The nation's presence on the medal tally was defined by mostly one or two medals per edition, with the success of the Men's Hockey teams being the main reason for it.

However, the 21st century marked a turning point, as it saw India's rise at the Olympics. Their success at the Games picked up pace in several new ways.

Check out the full article to see how India's journey transformed:

1996-2008: Individual medals emerge

After years of triumph in Men's Hockey, 1996 Atlanta Olympics saw a change for India, as Leander Paes won a Bronze medal in Tennis. This victory brought in the first individual medal for India in Olympics after 44 years (previously: K.D. Jadhav won in 1952 in Wrestling).

Following this breakthrough, other individual athletes began to make their mark. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Karnam Malleswari made history with her Bronze medal win in Weightlifting, and became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.

Moving to the next edition, the 2004 Athens Olympics saw another individual triumph, with a Silver medal this time. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore brought home India's first-ever medal in Shooting, laying the groundwork for India's extended talent pool beyond hockey.

In 2008, the momentum continued with Abhinav Bindra's Gold (Shooting), Vijender Singh's Bronze (Boxing), and Sushil Kumar's Bronze medal (Wrestling) in the same edition.

Read Also: Most medals by an Indian in a single Olympics

2012: Six Medals and India's Olympic Rise

The 2012 London Olympics was a truly historic moment for India. For the first time ever, India secured six individual medals in a single Olympic edition, that too in five different sports. This was not just a jump in numbers, but a clear rise for India in the Olympic Games.

Here, take a closer look at the medalists:

Gagan Narang: Bronze Medal in Shooting

Gagan Narang won India's first medal at London 2012, taking bronze in the men's 10m Air Rifle event with a final score of 701.1. He opened the medal books for India in this historic edition.

Sushil Kumar: Silver medal in Wrestling

Sushil Kumar became the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals (previously in 2008), securing silver in the men's 66kg freestyle wrestling after a hard-fought tournament.

Saina Nehwal: Bronze medal in Badminton

Saina Nehwal earned India's first-ever Olympic medal in Badminton, securing a bronze in Women's singles. With this victory, she also became the second woman, after Malleswari, to win a medal at the grandest stage.

Yogeshwar Dutt: Bronze medal in Wrestling

Yogeshwar Dutt overcame injuries and fought through brilliantly in the men's 60kg freestyle wrestling to secure a bronze medal.

Mary Kom: Bronze medal in Boxing

In the debut of women's boxing at the Olympics, Mary Kom won a bronze in the flyweight (51kg) category, making her the first Indian woman boxer to achieve this milestone.

Vijay Kumar: Silver medal in Shooting

Vijay Kumar clinched silver in the men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol, finishing behind Cuba's Leuris Pupo.

Read Also: Olympic Athletes to Watch in LA 2028 from India

2016-2024: Sustaining the momentum in India's modern Olympic era

India has consistently built upon its Olympic success since 2012, with athletes dominating in different categories of sports. The period from 2016 to 2024 has seen new talents emerge and solidify India's rise on the global stage.

India, a nation with a rich history and diverse culture, has made significant strides in the world of sports over the years. While cricket often dominates the headlines, India’s achievements in the Olympic Games have also brought huge pride to the country. From the early days of independence to recent successes, Indian athletes have showed their talent and determination on the grandest stage of all – the Olympics.

Also Read: 10 Indian Women Who Made Olympic History

In this article, we will take a look at some of best Indian performances in Olympic history.

Best Indian Performances in Olympic History

10. Karnam Malleswari – Bronze Medal in Weightlifting (2000 Sydney Olympics)

Karnam Malleswari’s bronze medal in weightlifting at the 2000 Sydney Olympics was a historic achievement for India, as she became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.

Competing in the 69 kg weight category, Malleswari lifted a total of 240 kg (110 kg in snatch and 130 kg in clean and jerk) to secure the bronze medal. She is also the first Indian weightlifter (male or female) to win an Olympic medal.

9. Lovlina Borgohain | Bronze, Boxing (Tokyo 2020, Welterweight)

At Tokyo 2020, Lovlina Borgohain won bronze in the women’s welterweight category (69kg) to become the third Indian boxer with an Olympic medal, following in the footsteps of Mary Kom and Vijender Singh.

With an Olympic bronze and gold medals at the world and Asian championships, Lovlina Borgohain has carried forward the legacy of women in Indian boxing that was founded by the legendary Mary Kom.

8. Ravi Dahiya | Silver, Wrestling (Tokyo 2020, 57kg)

Ravi Kumar Dahiya clinched silveredal in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. With it, the then 23-year-old Ravi is the sixth Indian wrestler to win a medal at the Games and only the second to bag a silver after Sushil Kumar.

Ravi fell short of winning an Olympic gold medal following a 7-4 loss to Zaur Uguev of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).

7. Sushil Kumar | Bronze (Beijing 2008), Silver (London 2012), Wrestling

Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar has never let the odds slow him down. A three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and a former World Wrestling Championships winner, Sushil Kumar earned most of his stripes defying the odds on the back of his iron will. And, perhaps, the best case studies of his dogged perseverance are Sushil Kumar’s Olympic medals – a bronze at the 2008 Beijing and a silver at the 2012 London Games.

While the London silver put him in the history books as the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals, the bronze at Beijing was a significant milestone for Indian wrestling as a whole.

6. PV Sindhu | Silver (Rio 2016) & Bronze (Tokyo 2020), Badminton

PV Sindhu is the first woman from India ever to become a double Olympic medallist.

At the Rio 2016 Olympics, Sindhu put in a spirited fight in the final but ultimately ended up with the silver medal, a monumental effort that brought the world and India to its feet. Four years later, Sindhu left Tokyo 2020 having carved out a slice of history for her own by winning the bronze medal match against China's He Bing Jiao.

Also Read: Most medals by an Indian in a single Olympics

5. Leander Paes | Bronze, Tennis Singles (Atlanta 1996)

Leander Paes created history after beating Brazilian Fernando Meligeni in the men’s singles bronze medal match in the Atlanta Olympics 1996. It was India’s first Olympic tennis medal and the first individual medal after 44 years.

What made the victory even more special is the fact that Leander Paes battled through a serious wrist injury, sustained during his semi-final clash against Andre Agassi, to claim his place in Indian sports’ hall of fame.

4. Mirabai Chanu | Silver, Weightlifting (Tokyo 2020, 49kg)

Indian weightlifting ace Mirabai Chanu won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The then 26-year-old managed a total lift of 202 kgs (87kgs in snatch + 115 kgs in clean and jerk) to finish behind the Olympic champion Hou Zhihui of China, who set an Olympic record with a lift of 210 kgs (94+116). 

Mirabai Chanu’s win comes two decades after Indian trailblazer Karnam Malleswari became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal. Competing at the 2000 Sydney Games, the Malleswari ace won a bronze medal in the women’s 69kg weight category.

3. Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Gold (Amsterdam 1928 to Tokyo 1980, 8 Golds)

India’s dominance in field hockey during the early 20th century is one of the most remarkable chapters in Olympic history. The Indian hockey team has won eight Olympic gold medals in all, six of them in a row (from 1928-1956) and added two more at Tokyo 1964 and Moscow 1980.

In the Paris 2024 Games, the team finished with a bronze for their first successive medals at the Olympics since Munich 1972. 

2. Abhinav Bindra | Gold, 10m Air Rifle (Beijing 2008)

Abhinav Bindra will forever hold a place in sporting history as India's first individual gold medallist at the Olympics. A near-perfect 10.8 on his last shot in the men’s 10m air rifle shooting event at the Beijing 2008 Olympics helped the then 25-year-old Abhinav Bindra become an Olympic champion.

Before Bindra India had won eight Olympic gold medals, all of which came in men’s field hockey (1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964 and 1980).

Also Read: Olympic Athletes to Watch in LA 2028 from India

1. Neeraj Chopra | Gold, Javelin Throw (Tokyo 2020)

Neeraj Chopra won the men’s javelin throw gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a throw of 87.58m. It was India’s first-ever Olympic medal in athletics and the realisation of a long-standing dream - one which legends like Milkha Singh and PT Usha had also chased but fallen short of by agonisingly narrow margins.

Moreover, Neeraj Chopra’s Tokyo crown was India’s second individual gold medal at the Summer Games after Abhinav Bindra’s shooting title at Beijing 2008.