The biggest breakthrough athletes of 2023

While several established athletes shone over the past year, we also witnessed the rise of a new generation of sporting stars who have brought new excitement to the world of sport.

As we look back at 2023, here are some of the athletes who made a huge leap the year before the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Kelvin Kiptum

Marathon, Kenya

Few athletes burst onto the scene like Kelvin Kiptum did in 2023. He won the London Marathon in April, running in just the second marathon of the then-23-year-old’s career. To top that, he not only won the Chicago Marathon in October, but broke the marathon world record - previously held by Eliud Kipchoge - with a time of 2:00:35.

Joscelyn Roberson

Artistic Gymnastics, United States

A powerful gymnast with must-watch vaults, Joscelyn Roberson showed she belonged with the world’s best in 2023. The 17-year-old played a key role in the U.S. gymnastics world gold thanks to her performances in the qualifying round. An ankle injury kept her out of the medal rounds in Antwerp. She also won two** golds and two silvers at the Pan American Championships**

Victor Wembanyama

Basketball, France

Expectations could not be higher for the 2.24m (7-foot-4) star’s NBA debut. Victor Wembenyama impressed the world while playing for the French national team and professional teams in France, but would he cut it in the NBA? Yes. Yes, he would. In his young NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs, he is averaging a double-double, can score from anywhere on the floor, and is seemingly throwing down a highlight reel dunk every game. Next, we get to look forward to Wemby and the French team at the Paris Olympics.

Barbara Domingos

Rhythmic gymnastics, Brazil

After dealing with a foot injury early in the year, Barbara Domingos continued to make history for Brazil. She was able to win a bevy of medals at the Pan American Games, becoming the first Brazilian to win an all-around rhythmic gymnastics medal at the Pan Ams. She won gold in the all-around, ball and ribbon, and silver in the hoop and clubs.

Letsile Tebogo

Athletics, Botswana

At just 20 years old, Letsile Tebogo showed in 2023 a glimpse of what we can expect in his future. At the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, he took silver in the 100m and bronze in the 200m. Having become the first African man to make the 100m podium at the World Championships, he goes to Paris as a genuine medal contender in both sprints.

Onodera Ginwoo

Skateboarding, Japan

Onodera Ginwoo is 13 years old and has taken the skateboarding world by storm in 2023. He started the year with a bronze at skateboarding's 2023 Street World Championships, and followed that up with a gold at the X Games. Do not take your eyes off the prodigy skateboarder with Paris less than a year away.

Mexican artistic swim team

Mexico made its mark on artistic swimming in 2023. The country won three golds in the Artistic Swimming World Cup, then followed with a silver in the mixed duet free routine at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. At the Pan American Games, Mexico won a coveted team quota for Paris 2024, so we will hear so much more from this team next year.

Samuel Short

Swimming, Australia

The 2023 World Aquatics Championships were a huge success for Australia, with the Aussies taking home 30 medals, including 15 gold, from Fukuoka. Samuel Short was a big part of that medal tally, winning gold in the 400m freestyle, silver in the 800m freestyle, and bronze in the 1500m free.