Top US Athletes to Watch in the 2024 Summer Olympics

The 2024 Summer Olympics are in full swing, and we've already seen a lot of great moments. However, there's still a lot coming up on the schedule, including some of the best athletes in swimming, basketball, surfing, track and field, and so much more. Needless to say, it will be a ton of fun to watch. This year, we also get to see some of the most exciting young faces to ever compete, and that's who we're celebrating today. These are the top U.S. athletes to watch in the Paris Summer Olympics.

There are many great athletes on this list, starting with several stars of track and field, including world champion Sha'Carri Richardson and shot-putting hero Ryan Crouser. There are also incredible gymnasts on this list, including the always-impressive Simone Biles and up-and-coming star Suni Lee. Basketball is also a big sport at the Summer Olympics. We're excited to see some of the biggest stars of the NBA and WNBA making appearances, including LeBron James, Steph Curry, Diana Taurasi, A'ja Wilson, and more.

To determine the top U.S. athletes to watch in the Summer Olympics, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the Olympic roster and compared that with some of the most authoritative sports sites, including ESPN, NBC Olympics, Sports Illustrated, and more. We think this list will get you excited about the sports and the athletes on the docket for this summer. (If you want to learn more about the history of the Olympics over the years, check out this list of the oldest Olympic athletes in sports history.)

While the incredible Richardson was world champion twice, this is her first time competing in the Olympics. We're anticipating her performance because she is blisteringly fast. During the June U.S. trials, she ran the 100 meters in 10.71 seconds. She's also expected to compete as part of the 4×100 relay team. Watch her during the Olympics to see if she will surpass her personal record of 10.65 seconds in the 100-meter race. We're anticipating some real fireworks with this one.

While there are plenty of younger athletes showing their stuff at the Olympics, there are also some veterans who will be making their presence known. One of them is James, who will be playing for Team USA. Keep in mind that James is one of the best basketball players with many accolades to his name. However, he has only won a medal one other time — 20 years ago when he won a bronze. Now, he'll be going for the gold with his team, and it will be a wild ride.

At only 36 years old, Curry has proven to be one of the best to ever play the sport of basketball and he's bringing his talents to the Olympics. The four-time NBA champ, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and three-point leader is going to the big show for the first time to play for Team USA. Curry has already proven himself to be a great three-point shooter, and at the Olympics, the three-point line is 18 inches closer to the basket than in the NBA, so it should be a joy to watch.

Lyles has been dominating the Olympic games for a while now. He is one of the few players to win gold medals in the 100, 200, and 4×100-meter relay at a single Olympics, and he's going to Paris to show his stuff again. During the U.S. trials, he ran the 200-meter run in 19.53 seconds, which is the fastest in the world this year. In addition to being a fast runner, Lyles is also a blast to watch with his necklace stones, colored nails, and other eccentricities. He's one of the wildest and most interesting athletes at the games.

At only 27 years old, Ledecky is already a 10-time Olympic medalist with seven golds under her belt. She's considered to be one of the best in the history of the sport, and she's coming back for more. During this Olympics, she has a chance to pass several other swimmers to become the most decorated female Olympian of all time, so there's a lot on the line. Watch this year, and you will witness history in the making.

Biles is always exciting to watch, and she has a winning streak that may never be defeated. She will be more exciting to watch this year after she dropped out of the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Now she's back and ready for revenge. Get ready to watch her perform new floor routines that incorporate unique moves and poses. It's no surprise that Biles receives a standing ovation every time she performs, and this year should be no different.

Over the years, Scheffler has proven to be one of the best golfers around. During 2022, he won four matches out of six, and he hasn't cooled off yet. He's also won many different awards and championships. However, he has never taken on the Olympics, so this should be interesting. Many fans will tune in to see their favorite golfers, while others will be amazed by Scheffler's unorthodox yet very successful swing.

Lee has competed in past Olympics as well as part of the NCAA gymnastics team at Auburn. In addition to her undeniable skill, another reason to watch Lee is that she's back for redemption. Last year, she had two bouts of kidney disease that made training difficult, so she's a bit of an underdog. However, she's now in remission and ready to take on the world (literally).

At just 31 years of age, Crouser has already proven that he's one of the best athletes to ever throw the shot put. He's a two-time Olympic gold medalist and he's looking to impress again in 2024. Like Suni Lee, Crouser has a retribution story. He recently had injuries to his throwing elbow and tore a pectoral muscle in his chest. However, he has recovered and is coming back to show that he means business. He already had the best record at the U.S. trials. Still, he has some competition so he'll be interesting to watch.

Fans of surfing already know how great Moore can be, but many do not realize that she is actually the first and only woman to ever win a gold medal in surfing at the Olympics. She was also the youngest champion to win five world titles in just 10 years. Now, she's coming back again to add to her amazing records. Needless to say, she has a lot going for her and we're excited to see what she'll accomplish. Beyond her skills, she's also a ton of fun to watch, so don't miss her at this year's Olympics.

At 42, Taurasi still shows no signs of stopping. She's already considered one of the best offensive players to ever play in the WNBA. She's a three-time WNBA champion, leading scorer, and 2009 MVP. Now, she's returning to the Olympics to try to claim her sixth gold medal. Like many other athletes on this list, Taurasi has dealt with injuries in recent years with a lower leg injury that forced her to miss several games. However, she's feeling better now and is ready to rock.

At just 28 years old, Wilson has made quite a mark on WNBA basketball as a two-time defending champion and league MVP. Now, she's bringing her skills to the Olympics as part of Team USA in Paris. She will be instrumental in their success, and it's going to be a ton of fun to watch. (Want to learn about the other young people who have made history? See this list of the youngest gold medalists in history.)