The lighting of the cauldron is imminent, marking the official start of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
With 329 medal events scheduled and more than 10,000 athletes competing, the weeks ahead promise an abundance of storylines. Where should one even start?
High expectations for Sha'Carri Richardson's Olympic debut
Sha'Carri Richardson was poised to be one of the breakout stars of the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, but a positive test for marijuana forced her to miss the Games. Now, her moment has arrived, and she's ready to make the most of it.
Simone biles makes her olympic comeback
At the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, one of the defining moments was when Simone Biles withdrew from the women's gymnastics team event, later revealing she was struggling with the "twisties." She did return to action, winning a bronze medal in the individual balance beam, but left Tokyo without a coveted gold medal. Now, she's back, determined to reclaim her place atop the gymnastics world.
Will a new team claim the title of team USA's newest champions in women's beach volleyball?
This sport has traditionally been dominated by the United States and Brazil, so it's likely that one of these two nations will once again take home the gold medal. The Brazilian team of Ana Patricia and Duda currently holds the top world ranking, but the American duo Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth are right behind them.
Coco gauff to finally make olympic debut
American tennis star Coco Gauff was poised to make her Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games three years ago, but a positive COVID-19 test sadly forced her to withdraw from the tournament. Now, after that disappointing setback, Gauff is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to finally represent her country on the global Olympic stage.
Coco Gauff, now 20 years old, will finally have the opportunity to fulfill her Olympic dream. As the current world No. 2 player, she will be a serious medal contender in the women's singles event.
How many medals will the U.S. men's skateboarding team secure? In the inaugural Olympic skateboarding event, the U.S. won two bronze medals, but this time they could achieve even greater success, particularly in the men's street contest. Nyjah Huston and Jagger Eaton both have strong potential to reach the podium, although they will face tough competition from a formidable Japanese team.
Will the United States break a 24-year streak without winning a gold medal in weightlifting? The last time an American weightlifter achieved this feat was at the 2000 Sydney Games. With a formidable Olympic team selected for Paris 2024, Team USA might have the opportunity to end this lengthy drought. Olivia Reeves appears to be the frontrunner for this achievement, boasting the highest qualifying lift among all competitors in the women's 71 kg weight category.
The competition for the most gold medals adds an intriguing dimension. In the previous Olympics, the United States narrowly edged out China in the gold medal tally by just one medal. Once again, Paris is expected to witness another closely contested battle between these two nations.