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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)
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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)
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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)
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India’s javelin ace and the World Champion Neeraj Chopra will look to win back-to-back Olympic golds after claiming his first in Tokyo. Neeraj aims to become the first Indian athlete to win consecutive gold medals.
He will also look to breach the 90m mark that has eluded him in his career so far.
Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024: Indian athletes who qualified for the Paris 2024
4. Rayssa Leal (Skateboarding)
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The Brazilian skateboarding sensation Rayssa Leal will yet again look to put on a show at the grandest stage of all with her flips, air, and other tricks at the women’s street competition in Paris.
The 16-year-old, however, will have competition from another 16-year-old from Great Britain who will look to go from bronze to better under Parisian skies. They will be in action at the La Concorde during the event.
5. Eliud Kipchoge (Athletics)
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Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge will have the opportunity to become the first athlete on the planet to win the Olympic marathon on three consecutive occasions, completing the three-peat.
The Kenyan legend is currently tied with Abebe Bikila and Walkdemar Cierpinski from Kenya and Germany respectively. The 39-year-old has been crossing the finish line called greatness and will want to do it all over again in Paris.
6. LeBron James (Basketball)
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American basketball star LeBron James, also known as King James will play his fourth Olympic Games in his illustrious career.
The four-time NBA champion will join hands with Steph Curry and Kevin Durant to help the United States bag their 17th Golden Glitter in men’s basketball.
7. Clarisse Agbegnenou (Judo)
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Clarisse Agbegnenou, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion is a giant in judo’s women’s under 63kg weight category. She has won seven IJF Grand Slam titles in Paris and also has six individual titles to her name, five European championships as well as one mixed gold medal at the Games.
8. Armand Duplantis (Athletics)
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The Swede is the closest to completing the Olympic mega-event. If he defends the gold medal he won in Tokyo 2020, he will achieve it. Outside of the ring events, Duplantis is already a huge figure.
The current world record holder in pole vaulting has dominated the discipline for at least five years. He has two world outdoor titles to his name, in 2022 and 2023, and two indoor titles, in 2022 and 2024, and has broken the world record for his sport eight times, the last time in April of this year at the Diamond League in Xiamen, China.
9. Novak Djokovic (Tennis)
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24 Grand Slams, 98 singles, and an absolute superstar. Novak Djokovic will make his Olympic return for the fifth time, hopeful of winning his first gold. The Serb has made it to three semi-finals.
However, with the experience of playing at Roland Garros and winning it, he will be one of the favourites going into the competition. He will have Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner all going to glory in Paris.
Also Read: ITF announces entry list for Paris Olympics 2024
10. Ariarne Titmus (Swimming)
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Ariarne Titmus has been breaking records for fun. She made her presence felt at the Tokyo Olympic games winning the 400m freestyle in a then-record time of 3:56 (3 minutes, 56 seconds), and went viral on the internet for her coach's celebration after the win.
The celebrations did not stop there as she broke world records in 200m as well as 400m freestyle, and will now defend both titles in Paris.