Top Athletes to Watch in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics

It's that time again. Another four years have passed and the Summer Olympics are underway. Top athletes from all over the world are already setting new records at the Paris Olympics. The talent pool this year is overflowing and there are a few key athletes you should keep your eye on. Some have arrived confidently to defend their titles while others are hoping for a chance at gold on their first go around.

Some of the faces you'll spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics are familiar. They're athletes who have been returning every four years since 2008, giving it their all and making history. Other faces are brand new at the Olympics. Those making their debut have arrived with the determination to impress judges and audiences and make a name for themselves as they continue striving.

These top athletes are up against more than other competitors at the Paris Olympics. Heatwaves in Paris are making these Olympic Games extra challenging, which has required some adjustments. Nevertheless, the elite athletes below are giving it their all, enduring the extreme heat, and coming out on top. (After this article, check out The Oldest Olympic Athletes in Sports History.)

To put this list together of the top athletes to watch in the Paris Summer Olympics, 247 Tempo reviewed several sources, including the official Olympic Games website and coverage by news outlets like NBC Olympics.

Mete Gazoz

Sport: Archery
Event: Men's Individual
Nationality: Turkey
Age: 24

Mete Gazoz already made history when he won individual gold at the Tokyo Olympics as a Turkish contender. He was only 21 years old at the time. However, that wasn't his only try at the Olympics. His first appearance was in 2016. Now that the Paris Olympics are here, Gazoz is ready to take the world by storm yet again and reclaim his title. Gazoz uses a recurve bow, beams with an outgoing personality, and has the kind of smile that tells of his confidence.

Viktor Axelsen

Sport: Badminton
Event: Men's Singles
Nationality: Denmark
Age: 30

Viktor Axelsen currently holds the No. 1 spot in the Badminton Men's Singles event and he is back this year ready to defend what he earned four years ago. He competed in 2016 as well as 2020 and holds both a bronze and a gold medal. Axelsen has had a long streak of success over the years, starting with his win at the 2010 BWF World Junior Championships. He uses an Astrox 100ZZ but perhaps his greatest asset is his mind, which he has been working to strengthen as an elite athlete.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Sport: Basketball
Event: Men's Basketball
Nationality: Canada
Age: 25

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doesn't have any Olympic experience prior to the Paris Olympics but his improvement in the NBA has opened doors for him. He plays for Oklahoma City and averages more than 30 points each game (success only two other players have seen this NBA season). He's aligned with other strong NBA players, which makes him a force to look out for this year.

Nikola Jokic

Sport: Basketball
Event: Men's Basketball
Nationality: Serbia
Age: 29

Nikola Jokic's streak this NBA season has called for worldwide attention. He has Olympic experience as he competed in the 2016 Olympics. Initially, his participation this year was unconfirmed but he was present to represent Serbia against Team USA. He's a three-time NBA MVP and demonstrated his skill by scoring 20 points in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Dominika Banevic

Sport: Breaking
Event: Breaking
Nationality: Lithuania
Age: 16

B-girl, Dominika Benevic (nicknamed "Nicka"), surprised audiences when she took the 2023 world title in Belgium, easily becoming the youngest competitor to win. In Paris 2024, Benevic turns 17 and despite her age, she is focused on winning a gold medal. Her aspirations began at the tender age of five when she first witnessed breaking. She was forever changed after that first performance.

Nevin Harrison

Sport: Canoeing
Event: C-1 200m
Nationality: United States
Age: 21

In the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Harrison made history by becoming the first U.S. woman to win gold in canoeing. She's back to compete in Paris, ready to defend her title. Although she's there to defend her win from the last Olympics, she keeps an "underdog mentality," demonstrating her humility despite her success.

Quan Hongchan

Sport: Diving
Event: Platform (Individual and Synchronized)
Nationality: China
Age: 17

In 2020, Quan Hongchan was only 14 years old and managed to earn perfect scores all around, winning the Individual 10m Platform gold. Hongchan and Chen Yuxi have already impressed judges this year at the Paris Olympics, winning gold in the Women's Synchronized 10m Platform event. Together, they finished with 359.10 points. They have demonstrated what many are calling "next level" synchronization, showing off their well-earned gold medals for news outlets and photographers.

Ben Maher

Sport: Equestrian
Event: Team and Individual Jumping
Nationality: Great Britain
Age: 41

Ben Maher has plenty of Olympic experience, having competed in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020. He's back for the Paris Olympics as a two-time Olympic gold medalist even after having suffered an injury in 2023. Maher handles pressure well, even making a last-minute decision during this year's Olympics to swap out his horse, Point Break, for Dallas Vegas Batilly.

Harmanpreet Singh

Sport: Field Hockey
Event: Field Hockey
Nationality: India
Age: 28

Harmanpreet Singh previously competed in the Olympics in both 2016 and 2020. At the Tokyo Olympics, Singh led his team to victory. The previous victory for India in Field Hockey was four decades prior. Singh is battling the heatwave in Paris along with his teammates, showing out purposefully, which led his team to a 2-0 win over Ireland.

Rory McIlroy

Sport: Golf
Event: Men's Golf
Nationality: Ireland
Age: 34

Rory McIlroy competed in the 2020 Olympics but there were questions about his lack of attendance in major championships. Nevertheless, McIlroy's talent is undeniable, and he's still considered one of the best globally. This time around, McIlroy is focused on a gold medal, noting it would be his biggest achievement in the last 10 years.

Rebeca Andrade

Sport: Gymnastics
Event: Women's All-Around
Nationality: Brazil
Age: 24

Andrade has already made history at this year's Olympics and is set to challenge Simone Biles, the beloved gymnast from Team USA. She previously competed in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. In 2020, she garnered the most attention as she took home bronze and gold.

Shilese Jones

Sport: Gymnastics
Event: Women's All-Around
Nationality: United States
Age: 21

Shilese Jones doesn't have any Olympic experience yet as she wasn't included in Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. However, that hasn't stopped Jones' continued training and success. She's showing up in Paris on the tail end of several wins alongside competitors Simone Biles and Rebeca Andrade.

Teddy Riner

Sport: Judo
Event: Men's 100+kg
Nationality: France
Age: 35

French judoka, Terry Riner, is no stranger to the Olympics. He competed in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020, and has again made headlines with his appearance at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Riner just celebrated his 11th world title and he holds three gold and two bronze Olympic judo medals. He lit the cauldron this year and is expected to continue his winning streak.

Joe Choong

Sport: Modern Pentathlon
Event: Modern Pentathlon
Nationality: Great Britain
Age: 28

Great Britain's Joe Choong is not a newbie at the Olympics. He competed in 2016 and 2020, where he won Olympic gold. He's at the Paris Olympics now, tenacious as ever as he defends his title.

Eleanor Aldridge

Sport: Sailing
Event: Kite
Nationality: Great Britain
Age: 27

Elanor Aldridge saw an opportunity to enter the Paris Olympics following the retirement of several elite athletes in the sport. The event she's competing in is the first of its kind this year and with her previous win at the 2024 Formula Kite European Championships, she's worth keeping an eye on.

Sky Brown

Sport: Skateboarding
Event: Park
Nationality: Great Britain
Age: 15

Sky Brown earned an Olympic bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics when she was only 13 years old. She's risen in popularity due to her talent and her continued wins. She's determined this year, ready to face her fears and leave 'playing it safe' aside.

Thiago Almada

Sport: Soccer
Event: Men's Soccer
Nationality: Argentina
Age: 22

When Argentina was qualifying for the Olympics, Thiago Almada didn't hesitate to demonstrate his skill. He has already won the World Cup and his team counts on him to lead each win. Almada's goals are frequently impressive and he just led his team to a 2-0 win against Ukraine at the Paris Olympics.

Gabriel Medina

Sport: Surfing
Event: Men's Surfing
Nationality: Brazil
Age: 30

Gabriel Medina is having a blast at the Paris Olympics this year, giving photographers incredible moments to capture. He's a three-time world champion and at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, he finished in fourth place. As of now, Medina is being celebrated for surfing the best wave at the Olympics.

Summer McIntosh

Sport: Swimming
Event: Butterfly, Freestyle, and Individual Medley
Nationality: Canada
Age: 17

Summer McIntosh has already won gold at the Paris Olympics in the 400 IM. With previous Olympic experience, McIntosh has been confident and is ready to tackle her other competitions with a versatile style all her own. This year, she's being touted as both a "speed demon" and a "goddess" by Yahoo News Canada.

Ma Long

Sport: Table Tennis
Event: Men's Singles, Team
Nationality: China
Age: 35

Ma Long is no stranger to wins. He's a five-time Olympic gold medalist. This year, his only competition is himself. There are rumors he won't be returning to the Olympics after this year but for now, he's after his sixth gold medal.

Mondo Duplantis

Sport: Track and Field
Event: Pole Vault
Nationality: Sweden
Age: 24

Armand "Mando" Duplantis competed in 2020 at the Tokyo Olympics and took home a gold medal in the Pole Vault event. He's back this year to defend his title. Just this week, Time Magazine called him "the best Olympian in Paris."

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Sport: Track and Field
Event: 100m, 200m, 4×100 Relay
Nationality: Jamaica
Age: 37

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has won eight medals throughout her Olympic experience, which started in 2008, continued in 2012 and 2016, and through to 2020. This is her last appearance at the Olympic Games as she's ready to retire. So, enjoy her competitions in real-time while you still can. (Next, read about Surprising Amenities Olympic Athletes Enjoy Behind the Scenes.)