Olympic Qualifier Series 2024: These are the stars to watch in Shanghai
Athletes will compete in BMX Freestyle cycling, breaking skateboarding, and sport climbing at the inaugural Olympic Qualifier Series event. Here are some of the big names on show you should watch.
From 16-19 May, many of the world's top freestyle BMX riders, b-boys and b-girls, skateboarders, and sport climbers will gather for a first-of-its-kind multi-sport event: the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS).
You can stream all the action live globally on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for mobile devices.
For the first time, athletes in these four sports will compete together at the same event in a single urban park. Shanghai, People's Republic of China, will host the first of two stops on the OQS in which athletes will attempt to earn ranking points.
The OQS serves as the ultimate qualification stage on the road to Paris 2024 for BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding and sport climbing. In total, over 150 quota places for Paris 2024 will be secured by athletes following the Series in accordance with the relevant qualification systems.
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective teams at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at Paris 2024 depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation. Click here to view the qualification system for each sport.
Discover the star athletes who will be competing in Shanghai.
- Olympic Qualifier Series 2024 Shanghai preview: Full schedule and how to watch live
- BMX Freestyle at the Olympic Qualifier Series: Everything you need to know
- Breaking at the Olympic Qualifier Series: Everything you need to know
- Skateboarding at the Olympic Qualifier Series: Everything you need to know
- Sport climbing at the Olympic Qualifier Series: Everything you need to know
BMX freestyle stars at OQS 2024
The top BMX freestyle riders in action in Shanghai include the defending Olympic champions, Logan Martin of Australia and Charlotte Worthington of Great Britain, as well as Tokyo 2020 medallists Daniel Dhers, Hannah Roberts, and Nikita Ducarroz.
Heading into Shanghai, two stops of the UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup have been held this season.
Frenchman Anthony Jeanjean has won both stops at Enoshima and Montpellier, and the Tokyo 2020 Olympian will be one of the favourites to do well at OQS too. Martin and American Nick Bruce are the only other male World Cup podium finishers this year who will be in Shanghai. Reigning world champion Kieran Reilly of Great Britain will also be looking to secure his quota.
Jeanjean’s compatriot Laury Perez also triumphed on home soil in Montpellier this past weekend, and she will hope to take that momentum into Shanghai. Great Britain’s Sasha Pardoe was third in the southern French city and is also heading to China, while home hopes including Enoshima bronze medallist Deng Yawen will be expected to do well in front of their local fans.
Top b-boys and b-girls at OQS 2024
A few of the world's best B-Boys and B-Girls have already secured a qualifying quota at previous events. However, there are still some popular stars who have yet to do so, including B-Boy Jeffro of the USA and Japan's B-Girl Ami, the 2019 world champion.
Current world number one Wing (Republic of Korea) will be one of the biggest stars to watch in Shanghai alongside Japanese pair Issin (fourth) and Hiro10 (sixth). Issin and Hiro10 are vying for one available quota spot for Japan as their compatriot Shigekix already obtained one by winning Asian Games gold.
Kazakhstan’s B-Boy Amir, winner of the Breaking for Gold Series in Japan in 2023, will be another prominent figure in Shanghai.
On the women’s side, in addition to Ami, her compatriot B-Girl Ayumi – the 2021 world champion, who turns 41 this year – and current world number one Riko are the three Japanese b-girls battling it out for a maximum of just two quota spots for their NOC.
China's Ying Zi and Ziyan will receive plenty of home support in their attempt to join team-mate B-Girl 671, who won gold at the Asian Games, in obtaining a quota.
Star skateboarders competing at OQS 2024
The top names will be in action in skateboarding, from the likes of Jagger Eaton to Hiraki Cocona in park events, and stars such as Nyjah Huston, Aurélien Giraud, reigning Olympic champions Horigome Yuto and Nishiya Momiji, Rayssa Leal, and Pamela Rosa in street.
But aside from the established names, there are also newcomers who have emerged like Oda Yumeka, Chloe Covell, Akama Liz and Onodera Ginwoo, who have lit up Olympic qualifying contests seemingly out of nowhere.
Eaton will compete in both street and park, and his route to obtaining one of the maximum of two USA quota spots in park is not an easy task: Gavin Bottger and Tate Carew both stand in his way.
Augusto Akio and Luigi Cini of Brazil are also threats to the established names, considering their strong performances so far in prior qualifying events.
And the women’s field will be equally deep, with Arisa Trew, Olympic champion Yosozumi Sakura, and rising star Naia Laso all in the mix too.
Sport climbers in action at OQS 2024
A few athletes, such as competition climbing GOAT Janja Garnbret, have already obtained Olympic quota spots, and therefore will not be in Shanghai.
But that doesn’t mean there is no star power in action on the climbing walls at the Huangpu Riverside venue.
World number one-ranked speed climber Wu Peng of China will no doubt receive a boost from a vocal home crowd as he competes against the likes of former world record holders Veddriq Leonardo and Reza Alipour Shezandifard.
Natalia Kalucka of Poland is the highest-ranked female speed climber in action in Shanghai, with the world number two’s big tests likely coming from 2023 Asian Games bronze medallist Rajiah Sallsabillah of Indonesia as well as a strong Chinese contingent.
Some big names in boulder & lead are still yet to secure their Olympic quota spots and will be in action in Shanghai, including reigning Olympic champion Alberto Ginés López in the men’s event. World number six Lee Dohyun of Republic of Korea, Germany’s Alexander Megos and Yannick Flohé, and Czech star Adam Ondra are a few others who have yet to obtain a quota.
In the women’s event, American world number five Brooke Raboutou is the highest-ranked athlete competing in Shanghai. Asian Games silver medallist Seo Chaehyun and Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist Nonaka Miho are also names to watch.
