Five star athletes to watch out for at the Paris Olympics

With the much-anticipated Olympic Games commencing later this week, it’s time to get clued up on the world’s most-coveted sports competition. Over the course of 16 days, 10,500 athletes will compete in a total of 329 events, covering 32 sports. While this will be most exciting to watch, it’s also overwhelming to focus on such a large pool of talent. In order to make it easier for you to know who to look out for, here is a list of some of the star athletes – both new and seasoned talent – to eye at the Paris 2024 Games.

1. Simone Biles: At age 27, Biles is arguably the greatest gymnast in history with 37 world and Olympic medals, and a record nine all-round national titles under her belt. 

After winning a silver and bronze medal at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, Biles opted out of several events to focus on her mental health. Now it’s been eight years since the star athlete won gold at the Olympics making her one to watch by showing the world why she’s widely known as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time.

2. Tom Daley: The Coveted diver will be participating in the Olympic Games for the fifth time after his long-awaited gold win at Tokyo 2020. The 30-year-old is a definite mainstay at the Games after first appearing at Beijing 2008 at just 14. 

When asked about the upcoming Games, Daley said: ‘My whole life I’ve been wanting to win that Olympic gold medal and being able to do that in Tokyo makes this time around feel like I’m going there to have fun and enjoy it.’ Get ready to watch this four-time Olympic medallist aim for the gold again, while having himself a good time!

3. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce: The Jamaican athlete is a three-time Olympic champion, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest sprinters of all time. 

Paris 2024 will be extra sentimental for the veteran sprinter as it will mark both her fifth and final Olympic Games. Keep an eye out on Fraser-Pryce as she looks to go out with a bang!

4. Leon Marchand: The 22-year-old French swimmer is a five-time world champion who currently holds the world record in the men’s 400 medley. Given that he is the son of two former Olympic swimmers – Xavier Marchand and Céline Bonnet – Leon has the sport in his DNA.

Marchand will be aiming for his first ever Olympic medal on his home turf. If the young star succeeds, this would be France’s first gold medal in the pool in over a decade.

5. Andy Murray: The British tennis legend recently announced that the Paris 2024 Olympics will be his ‘last ever tennis tournament.’ The three-time Grand Slam champion remains the only man in Olympic history to win two single gold medals. 

Andy’s upcoming fifth and final Olympic appearance is also the first time he’ll be playing since Queen’s, having pulled out at Wimbledon over a spinal cyst. While Murray’s competition will be stiff, the Scotsman is bound to give it his all for the very last time.

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