We’re now only three weeks away from the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
As is the case every four years, the Olympics promise to be a spectacle of human athleticism, with record-breaking displays of skill, strength, speed, endurance and agility flooding our TV networks, social media feeds and topics of conversation.
The pomp and circumstance of the Olympics is great, but at the centre of this takeover are the athletes competing, doing their countries proud and fulfilling lifelong dreams. After all, it’s the athletes’ achievements, their inspirational stories, and their unbelievable feats that we’ll remember when it’s all said and done.
More than 10,000 athletes will converge in Paris this month, and only a handful will return home as champions, but they will all forever be immortalised in Olympic history. We’re sure they all have an intriguing story to follow, but we can’t possibly keep up with them all – and neither can you. That’s why we’ve selected the cream of the crop: 35 athletes from nations around the world whose performances you won’t want to miss.
Kaylee McKeown
Sport: Swimming
Country: Australia
We don’t want to jinx it, but quietly, we think Kaylee McKeown will eventually go down as Australia’s most decorated Olympian of all time. Emma McKeon is the current all-time leader, with 11 medals total, five of them gold. At only her first Olympics, McKeown (mind the similar name) won four medals, three of the gold, and she’s likely to win as many in Paris. She’s also only 22 years old, so you do the math.
Ellie Carpenter
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Sport: Football
Country: Australia
With Matildas captain Sam Kerr sidelined with an ACL injury, it’s time for Women’s Health joint-cover star Ellie Carpenter to step up as the face of Australia’s most popular national sporting team. Still only 24, Carpenter is off to her third Olympics and is arguably the best right back in women’s football. Her defensive acumen and leadership skills will be critical if the Matildas are to secure their first ever Olympic medal.
Ariarne Titmus
Sport: Swimming
Country: Australia
Ariarne Titmus was Australia’s golden girl of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, defeating Katie Ledecky – who was one thought invincible – in the 400m freestyle and blowing away her competition in the 200m. Now, Titmus is back to defend her crowns and will be favoured to do so, but her biggest competition may come from her own countrymen.
Kyle Chalmers
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Sport: Swimming
Country: Australia
Late last year, Kyle Chalmers told Men’s Health that “by the time Paris rolls around next year, I’ll be in the best shape I’ve ever been in.” Coming from someone who has already won an Olympic gold medal, that’s saying something. Chalmers heads to Paris for what could be his last shot at another gold medal. He’s only 26, but in swimming, you’re being handed your pension at that age. Plus, Chalmers recently revealed he’s suffering from a degenerative back issue. Does the alpha of the Australian swim team have one more gold medal in him? We think so.
Rafael Nadal
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Sport: Tennis
Country: Spain
In an ideal world, Rafael Nadal would cap off his legendary career with a second Olympic gold medal before riding off into the proverbial sunset. That scenario seems unlikely given his recent form, but perhaps a doubles partnership with his staggeringly talented compatriot Carlos Alcaraz could swing things in Nadal’s favour. Regardless, Nadal’s final Olympic campaign, on his favourite court of Roland Garros, will be must see TV.
Armand Duplantis
Sport: Athletics (Pole Vault)
Country: Sweden
There may not be a more dominant athlete in the world right now than Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis. The Swede sits atop World Athletics’ rankings of all track and field athletes, is the defending Olympic champion, a two-time world champion, a two-time world indoor champion and has won three consecutive Diamond League titles. He’s also only 24. Since setting the pole vault world record in 2020, Duplantis has surpassed his own record seven times – most recently in April of this year. We could see his world record tumble yet again in Paris.
Melissa Wu
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Sport: Diving
Country: Australia
Melissa Wu is off to her fifth Olympics, a record among Australian divers. She made her debut at the Beijing Games way back in 2008 at just 16 years of age, where she won a silver medal – and she’s still going. Wu’s longevity is to be admired, but she’s not just hanging around to participate, she’s still one of the best divers in the world and medalled at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
Cam McEvoy
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Sport: Swimming
Country: Australia
Just three years ago, Cam McEvoy crashed out of the Tokyo Olympics in the heat stages, finishing 29th overall in the 50-metre freestyle, and 24th in the 100-metre freestyle. He’s since revitalised his career thanks to a revolutionary approach to training, and at 30, he’s the favourite to win the 50m freestyle for his first Olympic gold medal.
Noah Lyles
Sport: Athletics (Track)
Country: USA
Noah Lyles caused quite stir last year when he poked the bear that is the NBA by criticising the league’s habit of labelling its title winners as world champions. “World champions of what?!?” Lyles opined, drawing the ire of many a basketball fan, but making a solid point. That incident alone would be enough for Lyles to command extra attention at this year’s Games, but the fact that the sprinter is the current 100m and 200m world champion means he’ll a genuine shot at four gold medals in Paris, courtesy of the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. Needless to say, but were he to pull-off the quadrella, Lyles would be the Olympics’ biggest superstar since Usain Bolt.
Kishane Thompson
Sport: Athletics (Track)
Country: (Jamaica)
And now to the man who has the best chance of spoiling Lyles’ party. Kishane Thompson is only 22, but his blistering 100m personal best of 9.77 seconds is the fastest anyone has run in the last 24 months and, crucially, is faster than Lyles has ever run. Thompson also only ran that time two weeks ago – talk about peaking at the right time.
Mollie O’Callaghan
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Sport: Swimming
Country: Australia
She was only 17 years old when she won her first Olympic medals at the Tokyo Games as part of three separate relay teams, but now Mollie O’Callaghan is looking to stamp her name as one of the world’s best in a number of individual events. O’Callaghan would likely medal in up to four individual events in Paris: the 100m and 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 200m medley, but it’s unlikely she’ll participate in all four, instead choosing to save her energy for the events where she stands the best chance at securing gold.
Jack Robinson
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Sport: Swimming
Country: Australia
Earlier this year, our counterparts at Men’s Health listed off some of the surfers who had qualified for the 2024 Olympics to Jack Robinson – it’s a list that includes world champions like John John Florence, Gabriel Medina and Felipe Toledo. His response? “I’ve already shown I can win events and beat those guys.” Suffice to say, Robinson is confident he can win Australia’s first Olympic gold medal in surfing. He has reason to be, as the current world number three.
Ethan Ewing
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Sport: Surfing
Country: Australia
Like Robinson, Ethan Ewing is firmly entrenched towards the top of surfing’s world rankings. He’ll also be vying for gold at Teahupo’o. Just don’t get in each other’s way boys, as long as Australia gets the medal, we’ll be happy.
Molly Picklum
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Sport: Surfing
Country: Australia
Yes, Australia really does have world class surfers coming out of our ears. But should we be surprised? If there’s one sport Australia should be dominating, it’s surfing. Yet, the nation only came away from the sport’s debut at the Tokyo Games with a single bronze medal. Molly Picklum, the current world number four at just 21 years of age, will look to improve on that mark.
Eliud Kipchoge
Sport: Marathon
Country: Kenya
The king of the marathon and the first man to break two hours in the event, Eliud Kipchoge remains the world’s most respected long-distance athlete. After the tragic death of world record holder Kelvin Kiptum earlier this year, Kipchoge holds the fastest marathon time of any living athlete. He’ll look to cement his legacy with a third consecutive Olympic gold medal next month.
Josh Giddey
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Sport: Basketball
Country: Australia
It was an up-and-down (mostly down) season for Josh Giddey, who made it to the NBA’s western conference semifinals with the Oklahoma City Thunder, but took a step back statistically. He’s since been traded to the Chicago Bulls, where he’ll look to make a fresh start, but before then, he’ll be handed the keys to the Australian men’s national basketball team in Paris.
Jess Fox
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Sport: Canoe Slalom
Country: Australia
Some sports have never ending debates over which athlete is the sport’s GOAT. Canoe slalom doesn’t have that issue, because it’s inarguably Jess Fox. The 30-year-old has so many world championships it isn’t funny, and finally won her first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo after several heartbreaking near misses. She’ll now look to add to her tally in the country of her birth.
Sha’Carri Richardson
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Sport: Athletics (Track)
Country: USA
Since she was sensationally banned from competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for violating the IOC’s anti-drug policy, Sha’Carri Richardson has been on the mend. Now she’s the favourite to win the 100m sprint. Quite the comeback story.
Patty Mills
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Sport: Basketball
Country: Australia
Patty Mills has been the face of the Boomers for as long as many can remember, but his time is finally winding down. Everyone knows that ‘Olympic Patty’ is a whole different beast, but Mills has found a diminishing role in the NBA and will no longer be the centrepiece of the Boomers’ offence. Paris represents Mills’ last hurrah, we know he won’t treat it lightly.
Peter Bol
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Sport: Athletics (Track)
Country: Australia
Back in early 2023, Peter Bol nearly had his career derailed by an inconclusive drug test that saw him banned from competing. He’s since been vindicated, but his Olympic preparations have surely taken a hit. Whether Bol can replicate the success he found in the 800m at the Tokyo Games remains to be seen, but the fact that he’s even made it back to the track is a success story in itself.
Saya Sakakibara
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Sport: Cycling (BMX Racing)
Country: Australia
Halfway through the semi-finals of the Tokyo Games, Saya Sakakibara was in first position and looked set to qualify for the Olympic final at her first ever Games. Then, a rival clipped her back wheel, causing Sakakibara to crash out of the race before being stretchered off the course. Sakakibara’s last Olympic campaign ended in heartbreak, but she’s since won two BMX racing world cup titles in 2023 and 2024. At this year’s world cup, the 24-year-old won four of six events and finished second in the other two. She’ll be the favourite to win gold in Paris, with a chance to complete a remarkable story of redemption.
LeBron James
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Sport: Basketball
Country: USA
At nearly 40 years old, we have to assume that this will be LeBron James’ last Olympics. Intent on going out on top, James has assembled an Avengers-level supporting cast to assist in his first Olympic campaign since 2012. USA basketball is always a pleasure to watch, the fact that this will likely be James’ last tournament with the team is simply the icing on the cake.
Lauren Jackson
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Sport: Basketball
Country: Australia
We would say that Paris will be a significant for five-time Olympian Lauren Jackson, as it will likely be the greatest ever Australian basketball player’s last Olympics, but we’re hesitant to call it likely. Jackson made her Olympic debut at Sydney 2000(!!!) and she’s already retired from international basketball twice. The first time was in 2016, after she decided that her fitness level wasn’t high enough to compete at the Olympics. Then she returned to the Opals’ squad for the 2022 FIBA World Cup before retiring again earlier this year. Obviously Jackson wasn’t too committed to calling it a day, because she’s now been named in the Opals’ Olympic squad. So, will Jackson ever retire for real? We can’t say for sure, but at 43 years old, her longevity is already the stuff of legend.
Alex de Minaur
Sport: Tennis
Country: Australia
2024 has been the best year of Alex de Minaur’s career. The 25-year-old has established himself as a constant presence in the ATP’s top ten (briefly peaking at 7th), made the quarterfinals of the French Open and has started beating the world’s best tennis players. He has a strong chance of winning an Olympic medal in Paris.
Cassiel Rousseau
Sport: Diving
Country: Australia
Australia isn’t exactly known for its divers – we’ve only produced two Olympic gold medallists in history, most recently in 2008 – but Cassiel Rousseau represents the nation’s best shot at gold since Mathew Mitcham. Rousseau is the reigning 10m platform world champion and will be the favourite to win his event in Paris.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen
Sport: Athletics (Track)
Country: Norway
The defending 1500m champion is facing heavy competition for his title. Jakob Ingebrigtsen was once expected to dominate his discipline for the foreseeable future, but the emergence of Scotsman Josh Kerr has cast some doubt over the Norwegian’s capabilities. Last month, Ingebrigtsen literally dove across the finish line to prevent Kerr from winning a race. Expect their rivalry to take centre stage.
Simone Biles
Sport: Gymnastics
Country: USA
Since taking an extended break from competition for mental health reasons, Simone Biles has returned with great success, proving she not only hasn’t missed a step, but may have actually come back stronger. Already regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, if Biles can win a few medals in Paris, she’ll also be the owner of one of the best comeback stories of all time and prove the power of the mental health break.
Katie Ledecky
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Sport: Swimming
Country: USA
The undisputed queen of middle-distance swimming, Katie Ledecky is returning for what could be her last Olympic campaign, with a chance of becoming the most decorated female swimmer of all time. Currently, Americans Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres hold the joint record, with 12 total medals, followed by Emma McKeon with 11 and Ledecky with 10. Ledecky also holds the second most Olympic gold medals of any female swimmer, with 7. Both McKeon and Ledecky have a chance to claim both of those titles in Paris, in what is sure to be a record-breaking meet.
Summer McIntosh
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Sport: Swimming
Country: Canada
Swimming’s next superstar is about to arrive. At just 17 years of age, Summer McIntosh has already won four world championship gold medals. In Paris, she’ll realistically have a shot at medals in eight events: the 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m freestyle, 200m and 400m individual medley, plus the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays and 4x100m medley relay. The existing record for the most medals by a female athlete at a single Olympics is six. McIntosh has a chance to knock it out of the park.
Chloe Covell
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Sport: Skateboarding
Country: Australia
Here’s an Olympian with a birth date that’s bound to make you feel old: 14-year-old skateboarder Chloe Covell was born in 2010. Athletes in the sport of skateboarding tend to skew younger, but even still, few are as young as Covell. Don’t confuse her youth with a developing skillset though. At the 2023 street skateboarding world championships, Covell took home the silver medal. Now she looks primed to take to the podium in Paris. And for the record, Australia’s youngest ever Olympic champion was 14 years and 180 days old – Covell will be 14 years and 171 days old on the day of the Olympic street skateboarding final.
