Jul 29, 2024 - Sports
Must-watch Olympic athletes and events
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Photo illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios. Photo: Thomas Samson/AFP via Getty Images
The Paris Olympics are in full swing and Team USA has 20 medals so far.
Here's when the biggest names will compete, now through the closing ceremony:
Women's basketball eyes an eighth gold medal
- A stacked team, including two-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson and six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, looks to win gold for the eighth consecutive year.
- Team USA Women's basketball will play Aug. 1 next, vs. Belgium, and Aug. 4, vs. Germany (group phases).
- The quarterfinals begin Aug. 7, followed by the semifinals on Aug. 9, and the bronze and gold medal games on Aug. 11.
Breaking makes its Olympics debut
- Victor Montalvo, Jeffrey Louis, Sunny Choi and Logan Edra will make their debut for Team USA on Aug. 9 and 10.
Noah Lyles looks to win in three events
- Track and field star Noah Lyles looks to claim multiple medals in Paris after his Olympic debut in Tokyo, where he won bronze in the men's 200m.
- Lyles will compete in the 100m Aug. 3-4, the 200m Aug. 5-6 and the 4x100m relay Aug. 8-9.
- He won gold in all three of these events during the 2023 World Championships — a feat last accomplished by Usain Bolt in 2015.
Simone Biles, Suni Lee and Jordan Chiles
- Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera posted the highest team score during the unification round and will compete next on Tuesday in the team final.
- Biles and Lee will compete in the women's all-around finals on Aug. 1.
- Biles and Carey will compete in the women's vault final Aug. 3
- Biles and Lee will compete in the balance beam final, and Biles and Chiles will compete in the floor exercise final on Aug. 5.
Sha'Carri Richardson's comeback
- After missing the Tokyo Games due to a positive marijuana test, star sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson is expected to participate in the 100m.
- The preliminary round is Aug. 2, and the final is Aug. 3.
Women's water polo looks to make history
- Maggie Steffens and Team USA women's water polo look to secure the team's fourth straight gold medal. It advances to the preliminary round July 31 vs. Italy and will play France on Aug. 2.
- Catch up quick: Rapper Flava Flav became the team's hype man when he signed a five-year sponsorship deal this month to support the athletes.
Youngest athletes to watch in the Games
- Quincy Wilson, 16, the youngest male track and field athlete, could make his Olympic debut in the mixed 4x400m relay Aug. 2 and 4x400m relay Aug. 9.
- Catch up quick: Team USA's youngest athlete across all sports, gymnast Hezly Rivera, 16, did not qualify for her individual event. Paige Heyn, 16, the youngest women's skateboard (street) placed sixth in Sunday's finals.
Coco Gauff's highly anticipated return
- After testing positive for COVID-19 and withdrawing from the Tokyo Games, tennis star Coco Gauff's long-awaited Olympic return is underway.
- Gauff advances to the third round of women's singles on Tuesday with quarter finals and semifinals on July 31 and Aug 1. Bronze and gold medal matches are Aug. 2 and Aug. 3. Gauff will also play in women's doubles and mixed doubles July 30-Aug. 4.
LeBron James and Team USA continue Olympic run
- After beating Serbia 110-84 Sunday, Team USA men's basketball will continue in the preliminary rounds July 31 vs. South Sudan and Aug 3 vs. Puerto Rico. The quarterfinals, semifinals and finals are Aug. 7, 9 and 11.
Ending a 24-year medal drought in weightlifting
- Team USA hasn't won a gold medal in weightlifting since the 2000 Sydney Games. Their chance to break their losing streak is Aug. 7-11.
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