It’s that time of year again.
The world’s best athletes are set to gather in France for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Want to catch up on what’s going on at the quadrennial sports extravaganza?
Let’s take a look at the biggest names, events, teams and stories you need to know.
Simone Biles’ return
During the Tokyo Olympics, Biles withdrew from both the individual and team competitions after experiencing “twisties,” a condition in which a gymnast loses control of her body in the air and becomes disoriented.
Regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, she is competing in her third Olympic Games and is looking to repeat her dominant performance at the 2016 Rio Games, where she won four gold medals.
Without Biles, the U.S. finished with silver behind Russia in the team event, the first time the U.S. has failed to win a team gold medal since the 2010 world championships. Now it’s up to the 27-year-old Biles and the U.S. team to bounce back.
Joining her will be Suni Lee (defining overall winner), Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, who are all returning from Tokyo.
Also keep an eye on 16-year-old newcomer Hezly Rivera from New Jersey, who is expected to do well, especially on the balance beam.
Katie Ledecky is on her way to cementing her GOAT status
Another American considered by many to be the greatest of her sport’s history, Ledecky will be able to solidify that status this summer in her fourth Olympics. With seven gold medals (10 total), she has a chance to leave Paris with the most Olympic gold medals by a woman in any sport; that record is held by gymnast Larisa Latynina, who won nine.
The 27-year-old Ledecky is the favorite to win two events in which she has previously been virtually unbeatable: the 800m freestyle and the 1,500m freestyle, and is also expected to include the 400m freestyle (with Australian rival Ariarne Titmus) and the 4 x 200 relay in her program.
Sha’Carey Richardson finally gets her chance
The fastest woman in the world will finally prove herself on the Olympic stage.
The 24-year-old Richardson had qualified to compete in the Tokyo Olympics but was told she could not compete after testing positive for marijuana.
The former Louisiana State University star qualified for Paris by winning the 100 meters at the 2023 World Athletics Championships and also at the U.S. Trials in June. Her time, 10.71 seconds, was the women’s world record this year.
Jamaican sprinters have won the women’s 100 meters at the last four Olympic Games.
Final cheers for veterans of US men’s basketball
This will likely be the last Olympic Games for legends LeBron James (39), Stephen Curry (36) and Kevin Durant (35), with Durant aiming for a record fourth gold medal in Paris against tough international competition.
The U.S. team is undergoing a generational change with young stars Jayson Tatum (26), Anthony Edwards (22), Devin Booker (27) and Joel Embiid (30) taking over as the next leaders.
2024 Paris Olympics
Would it be a problem if Caitlin wasn’t there?
Team USA’s decision to drop superstar Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark from the roster sparked heated debate, with critics arguing that the decision was unfair for both purely basketball and commercial reasons.
Head coach Cheryl Reeve said her exclusion was purely on merit, and now her team, led by Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson, must prove that decision the right one and raise hopes for an eighth consecutive gold medal.
Noah Lyles wins by a landslide
The American sprinter is on the verge of one of the most dominant run-of-the-mill men’s athletics campaigns in history: At the 2023 World Championships, Lyles could become the first runner since Usain Bolt to achieve the “triple crown” by winning gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4×100 relay.
He won a bronze medal in the 200 meters at the Tokyo Olympics, and now, at 27, Lyles is looking to establish himself as the best athlete in the world, with a shot at winning four gold medals if he competes in the 4×400 relay.
Stream the 2024 Olympics
If you want to watch every minute of the 2024 Olympics, Peacock is the way to go. For $7.99 a month, you’ll get live streaming of all the action from Paris, plus highlights and other perks. Gold Zonemore.
Want to stream the Paris Olympics for free? Try our free trials of DIRECTV Stream (5 days) and Hulu + Live TV (3 days), both of which include the networks you need to watch the Olympics.
Coco Gauff makes Olympic debut
The American tennis star has been forced to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19.
Gauff, still just 20 years old, is ranked No. 2 in the world and the defending U.S. Open champion, and Iga Swiatek will be the top American player standing in her way in Paris.
Can Gauff add an Olympic medal to her burgeoning resume?
Hooper on the sand
Remember Chase Budinger? He played seven years in the NBA as a role player.
Budinger, 37, is currently a member of the boys beach volleyball team. He won three state championships in high school and is ranked 13th in the world with partner Miles Evans.
what’s new?
Breaking, or breakdancing, will make its Olympic debut. 16 men and 16 women will compete in a round robin format followed by a knockout. Each “battle” will be a one-on-one, one-minute, best-of-three format. A panel of nine judges will score the dancers.
American dancer Victor Montalvo is considered the favorite to win the men’s division, while Queens resident Sunny Choi is considered the front-runner in the women’s division.
Kayakcross will also make its Olympic debut. It will fall under the umbrella of canoe slalom and for the first time in Olympic history, it will be a competition in which athletes compete against each other, rather than just against each other in canoe slalom.
Skateboarding will return as an Olympic sport for the second time since its debut at the Tokyo Olympics, along with sport climbing and 3×3 basketball.
All over the map
Surfing will also be returning to the Olympics for the second time, although it will be some time off.
The surfing competition will take place in Teaaupo, Tahiti, more than 9,000 miles from Paris.
Several open water swimming events, including a marathon swim, are scheduled to take place on the Seine, a river that has been a source of debate and doubt about its cleanliness.
Swimming in the river has been banned for more than a century due to health concerns. After significant investment, the Seine’s water will be tested this month and deemed safe to swim in. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo even swam in the river last week to demonstrate its safety.
