Twelve of the biggest athletes to watch at Paris 2024
The Olympic Games is a sporting spectacle like no other. It turns ordinary athletes into national heroes, champions into celebrities and generational talents into legends.
It’s where the best athletes in the world push themselves to the very limit of what is humanly possible, chasing athletic brilliance, fair play and a world united by sport.
Many of the world’s most renowned athletes will pause their professional seasons and cancel their summer vacation plans to compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Olympics.com explores a selection of the sporting titans preparing to shine bright in the City of Lights.
Simone Biles: the American gymnast looking for a golden return
Four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles will return to the Olympic Games with unfinished business on her mind.
After falling prey to the “twisties" three years ago at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, she’ll look to demonstrate her resilience to the world by claiming the women’s individual all-around title once more.
With 30 world championship medals, and five unique skills to her name, she may just have the resume needed to pull off a memorable Olympic comeback at Paris 2024.
King James searches for third Olympic crown
American basketball superstar LeBron James will return to the Olympic Games for the fourth time in his storied career.
The four-time NBA champion will join forces with the likes of Steph Curry and Kevin Durant in hopes of leading Team USA to their 17th Olympic gold medal in men’s basketball.
James’ on court presence will certainly be appreciated, as Team USA aims to quash the French rebellion led by 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama.
Sha’Carri Richardson headlines sprinting royalty at Paris 2024
Olympic debutant Sha’Carri Richardson will travel to Paris with visions of gold medals dancing in her head.
The 24-year-old American sprinter will look to beat the likes of Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to the 100m Olympic title, while Jamaica’s other sprinting sensation, Shericka Jackson, will look to claim dominion over both the 100m and 200m in Paris.
All three will chase the world records held by Florence Griffith Joyner in the women’s 100m (10.49), while American sprinter Noah Lyles will attempt to strike faster than lightning in the men’s 100m and 200m events.
Leon Marchand (FRA) is congratulated by Michael Phelps during the medal ceremony for the men's 400m individual medley at the Fukuoka 2023 World Aquatics Championships.
Will Leon Marchand ride a wave of home sport to swimming immortality?
Five-time world champion Leon Marchand will certainly have no shortage of support at the Paris La Defense Arena as he attempts to continue his dominant reign over swimming’s medley events.
The 22-year-old from Toulouse, France holds the world record in the men’s 400m individual medley, and will enter the event as the prohibited favourite in Paris.
He will hope to dazzle the home crowd with his mastery of all four strokes, freestyle, breast, back and butterfly, while attempting to end France’s 12-year gold medal drought in the pool.
Clarisse Agbegnenou searches for ultimate ippon: Olympic gold on home soil
Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Clarisse Agbegnenou is a titan of judo's women’s under 63kg weight class.
She’s claimed seven IJF Grand Slam titles in Paris, France alone. She has also won six individual world titles, five European championships and one mixed team gold medal at the Olympic Games during her storied career.
A gold medal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 would solidify her legendary status in French judo, making her the woman with the most Olympic golds in judo history.
Eliud Kipchoge chases historic three-peat in the men’s marathon
Two-time Olympic Champion Eliud Kipchoge is already regarded as one of the greatest marathon runners of all-time, but at Paris 2024, he’ll have the opportunity to achieve something singular: winning the Olympic marathon on three consecutive occasions.
The Kenyan superstar is currently tied with Ethiopian legend Abebe Bikila and Germany's Waldemar Cierpinski for most Olympic marathon victories. He’ll distinguish himself as the greatest of all time with a victory in Paris.
Mondo Duplantis prepares to soar over Paris
Armand “Mondo” Duplantis vaulted into the spotlight at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, clearing 6.02 meters to win the gold medal in the men’s pole vault. His victory propelled him to greater heights, physically and metaphorically.
The Swedish pole vaulting prodigy is now a two-time indoor and two-time outdoor world champion. He holds the provisional world record with a clearance of 6.24 metres and has come close to clearing 6.25 metres in competition this season.
Who knows what heights he’ll achieve in Paris.
Sun Yingsha looks to continue table tennis dynasty at Paris 2024
The People's Republic of China has never lost the women’s singles event in table tennis at the Olympic Games. World number one Sun Yingsha will look to keep the streak alive in Paris.
As reigning world champion, she will travel to Paris 2024 as a favourite for the gold medal. She’ll look to build on a string of victories that includes the 2023 WTT Finals, 2022 Asian Games and two WTT Champions tournaments in 2024.
The Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic champion will also participate in the team event, along with Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Chen Meng and 2021 world champion Wang Manyu.
Neeraj Chopra takes aim at back-to-back javelin titles
Indian Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra is set to return to the Olympic Games after winning gold in the men’s javelin at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
The 2023 world champion will look to defend his Olympic title in front of thousands of fans at the Stade de France, while chasing the 90 metre mark that has eluded him throughout his young career.
Rayssa “little fairy” Leal ready to chase magical moment at Paris 2024
Brazil’s teenage skateboarding sensation Rayssa Leal will look to impress the judges and fans alike with her advanced grinds, airs and flips during the women’s street competition at Paris 2024.
Dubbed the “little fairy” as a young skater, she’ll look to create her own magical moment in Paris. However, she won’t be the only teenage prodigy shredding rails and zooming through bowls, as Great Britain's Sky Brown looks to upgrade her bronze medal from Tokyo 2020.
The pair will be in action at the skateboarding venue at La Concorde during the Games.
Novak Djokovic pursues the one that got away
Novak Djokovic will return to the Olympic Games for a fifth time in pursuit of his first Olympic gold medal.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner has made it to the men’s singles semifinals on three occasions, but has yet to play in the Olympic final. He’s won at Roland Garros before, including a French Open title in 2023, but he’ll face stiff competition at Paris 2024.
Djokovic will need to be at his best if he encounters 14-time French Open winner Rafael Nadal or 2024 French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz on his way to the final at Roland Garros.
Will Ariarne Titmus give her coach more reasons to celebrate in Paris?
There are two things Ariarne Titmus excels at: breaking world records and sending her coach, Dean Boxall, into a frenzy.
Titmus announced her presence to the world at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, claiming victory in the women’s 400m freestyle with a then world record time of 3 minutes and 56.69 seconds. Her coach went viral after pulling on the rails and pumping his fists in celebration.
She has continued to give her coach reasons to celebrate, claiming world records in the 200m and 400m freestyle. She is now preparing to defend both of her Olympic titles at Paris 2024.