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Must-watch Olympic athletes and events
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.
More from Axios:



The Bay FC members competing at the Paris Olympics


Three Bay FC players are among a record number of National Women's Soccer League players who are suiting up for Olympic competitions this year.
Driving the news: Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji, the world's most expensive women's player, returns to the Olympics after competing for Zambia in Tokyo.
Paris Notebook: For love of women's skateboarding
Sunday's women's skateboarding competition in Paris represented the future of the Olympic Games, in more ways than one.
The big picture: Skateboarding, now in its second Olympics, is part of a concerted effort by organizers to make the Olympic Games younger, more diverse and more urban.

In photos: U.S. wins most Olympic medals in Paris Games' first weekend
The Paris Olympic Games' first weekend finished with the U.S winning more medals than any other team, and it's the only nation so far with a medal haul in the double digits.
By the numbers: Team USA had 12 medals by the end of day two of the Olympics Sunday, picking up two golds in swimming and one in fencing. France has won the second most so far (eight medals, including three gold), followed by Japan (seven medals, including four gold).
Simone Biles leads Team USA in qualifying, despite calf pain
Simone Biles battled through a calf injury on Sunday to lead all gymnasts who have competed thus far in the qualifying round at the Paris Olympics.
Why it matters: The legendary gymnast appeared to be in pain during floor exercise but held up Team USA with four strong performances.

Cardboard beds and "Scrub Daddy" mattresses: Olympians review their 2024 rooms
In Paris this summer, social media has given Olympics fans a glimpse beyond the field, pitch and pool — into small bedrooms with now-infamous cardboard beds.
Why it matters: Some athletes have reportedly opted to leave the Olympic Village and stay in hotels instead.
An inside look at the Olympic Village for the Paris Olympics
A nursery, a mindfulness area and on-site training facilities are among the firsts that separate the Olympic Village in Paris from the ones that housed athletes at prior games.
Between the lines: Sustainability was also a huge focus at this year's Olympics with a focus on refillable cups and the return of the much-talked about cardboard bed frames that debuted in Tokyo.






