We are just days away from watching Team USA compete against the world’s best athletes in Paris. Kicking off with what is sure to be one of the most beautiful Opening Ceremonies in Olympic history on the waters of the Seine. Some of America’s biggest athletes will represent the red, white, and blue including A’ja Wilson, Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, and LeBron James just to name a few led by legendary rapper Snoop Dogg.
This is a list of who we are rooting for at this year’s Olympics.
Simone Biles
The queen is back, bow down. After being unable to complete the 2020 Olympics with a case of the twisties, Biles is back on her “redemption tour“. Already the favorite for the gold medal in the all-around individual event, Biles
This is the most decorated group in US history including two all-around Olympic champions. Not just Biles, but the entire group of athletes representing Team USA are exceptional athletes. Sunisa Lee who won all-around gold at Tokyo also returns. Biles’ former roommate Jordan Chiles is also back competing for Team USA. The best friends have been competing together since 2018. After winning silver as a team in Tokyo, considered a major disappointment for the exceptionally talented Team USA, they want to win gold once again.
Sha’Carri Richardson
Finally, Sha’Carri Richardson gets her moment at the Olympics in the 100m event. Richardson did not get the opportunity to compete in the 2020 Olympics after testing positive for THC, a substance still banned by the Olympic Committee, and having to serve a one-month suspension.
Last year at the World Championships in Budapest, she defeated the Jamaican trio of champions to win gold in the 100-meter event. Last month she won gold at the USA Track and Field Championships. Heading into Paris she is also the favorite to take the gold in the event. She also has a chance to bring home another medal as part of the relay team in the 4 x 100m event.
Richardson is one of the best comeback stories, making it hard to cheer against her. The gold medal favorite is once again showing why she is That girl.
Katie Ledecky
One of the greatest Olympians of all time continues to be great. Ledecky will compete in the 1,500 freestyle yet again, an event she has never lost, like ever. She literally owns five world titles in the event and holds the world record.
The seven-time gold medalist will have extraordinary teammates on Team USA this year, Erin Gemmelli and Phoebe Bacon. Gemelli’s father, Bruce, was Ledecky’s coach during her dominant run at both the London and Rio games. Erin will compete in the 4 x 200m freestyle relay alongside Ledecky. Ledecky has known Bacon since she was in Pre-K and Katie was in fourth grade. Bacon is competing in the 200-meter backstroke event. Both Bacon and Gemmelli credit Ledecky as being their mentor.
Ledecky has a chance to make history once again and solidify herself as the greatest female swimmer of all time by breaking two more records.
Coco Gauff
Making her Olympic debut, Coco Gauff is headed to Paris to compete for her dream of winning an Olympic medal. To make the moment even more special, Gauff was named as the flag bearer for Team USA during the Opening Ceremony. She will compete in both women’s singles and women’s doubles alongside Jessica Pegula.
Gauff was set to compete at the Tokyo Olympics, however, she tested positive for COVID-19 just days before the competition and was forced to miss the games.
Gauff is currently ranked number two in the world. Gauff has performed very well at Roland-Garros in the past. At the 2022 French Open, she lost to Iga Swiatek in the final round. It was the first time she dropped a set during that entire tournament. After winning the US Open the following year, Gauff continued a strong performance by winning her first Grand Slam doubles title at Roland-Garros with Katerina Siniakova.
US Women’s & Men’s Basketball teams
This is not a drill, the women’s team is going for their EIGHTH STRAIGHT GOLD MEDAL. When you talk about American excellence, you better include these ballers who have always represented the United States with style and grace.
Led by veteran Diana Taurasi who is going for her sixth gold medal, the women’s team is loaded despite losing to Team WNBA during the All-Star Break over the weekend. That was mostly due to Arike Ogunbowale going off in the second half, and I could debate for hours that she was the biggest snub on the Olympic roster.
Taurasi’s teammate Kahleah Copper has been outstanding in her first season with Phoenix. This will be the former Finals MVP’s first Olympics in her nine-year WNBA career. She was one of the final cuts on the roster for Tokyo. Arguably the two best players in the league, A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, add toughness, shot-making ability, and leadership. Who is not excited to watch those two play together on the biggest stage in the world?
On the men’s side, we will get to watch LeBron James and Steph Curry team up in Curry’s first Olympic appearance. Similar to the women’s roster, the men’s roster is stacked with champions, MVPs, and All-Stars. Unlike the women’s team, however, the men’s team has struggled in their exhibition games needing LeBron James to be King James late in both games.
