2021 Olympics: 18 Athletes To Watch In Tokyo

Roughly 11,000 participants will compete in Tokyo for the 2021 Olympic Games, and more than 600 of those athletes represent Team USA. 

Here are 18 to watch when the Tokyo Olympics officially kicks off on July 23.

1. Simone Biles, Gymnastics

2021 U.S. Olympic Trials - Gymnastics - Day 4

With a combined total of 30 Olympic and World Championship medals, the 24-year-old gymnast (a.k.a. THE GOAT) is the most decorated American gymnast of all time. Photo: Getty Images

2. Sunisa Lee, Gymnastics

2021 U.S. Olympic Trials - Gymnastics - Day 2

The 18-year-old gymnast, who finished second behind Biles for the Olympic Trials, won silver on the floor exercise and bronze on the uneven bars at the 2019 World Championships. Photo: Getty Images

3. Allyson Felix, Track & Field

2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials - Day 8

The 35-year-old sprinter is tied with Merlene Ottey as the most decorated female Olympian in track and field history, with a total of nine Olympic medals. Felix is also the most decorated athlete, male or female, in World Athletics Championships history with 18 career medals. She also has the most gold medals with 13. Tokyo will be Felix's fifth Olympics.Photo: Getty Images

4. Gabby Thomas, Track & Field

2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials - Day 7

The 24-year-old sprinter is the second-fastest woman of all time in the 200 meters with 21.61 seconds.  Photo: Getty Images

5. Grant Holloway, Track & Field

2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials - Day 9

The 23-year-old hurdler and sprinter is the reigning world champion in the 110 meters hurdles and is the current world record holder in the indoor 60 meters hurdles. Holloway is also the second-fastest man in the 110 meters hurdles in history. Photo: Getty Images

6. Sydney McLaughlin, Track & Field

2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials - Day 9

The 21-year-old hurdler and sprinter is the current world record holder in the women's 400 meters hurdles and is the only woman that has broken 52 seconds in the event. Photo: Getty Images

7. Noah Lyles, Track & Field

2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials - Day 10

The 24-year-old sprinter is the current world champion in the 200 meters. Lyles also holds the 300-meters indoor world best time. Photo: Getty Images

8. Megan Rapinoe, Soccer

Sweden v USA - Women's International Friendly

The 36-year-old midfielder was named The Best FIFA Women's Player in 2019.Photo: Getty Images

9. Devin Booker, Basketball

Los Angeles Lakers v Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns selected the 24-year-old shooting guard in the first round of the 2015 NBA draft with the 13th overall pick. At 22, Booker became the youngest player in NBA history with consecutive 50-point games.Photo: Getty Images

10. A'ja Wilson, Basketball

Los Angeles Sparks v Las Vegas Aces

The Las Vegas Aces selected the 24-year-old power forward in the first round of the 2018 WNBA draft with the first overall pick. Wilson also won the WNBA MVP award for the 2020 season. Photo: Getty Images

11. Jordan Windle, Diving

2021 U.S. Olympic Trials - Diving - Day 7

The 22-year-old diver is a seven-time U.S. Senior National Champion and six-time U.S. Junior National Diving Champion. He also holds the NCAA Div 1 records for both the 3m springboard and the platform events. Photo: Getty Images

12. Caeleb Dressel, Swimming

2021 U.S. Olympic Trials - Swimming - Day 5

The 24-year-old freestyle and butterfly swimmer currently holds the world records in the 100-meter butterfly (both long course and short course), 50-meter freestyle (short course), and 100-meter individual medley (short course). Photo: Getty Images

13. Simone Manuel, Swimming

2021 U.S. Olympic Trials - Swimming - Day 8

The 24-year-old freestyle swimmer holds three world records as a member of a relay team. Manuel is the first Black American woman to win an individual Olympic gold in swimming and set an Olympic and American record. Photo: Getty Images

14. Katie Grimes, Swimming

2021 U.S. Olympic Trials - Swimming - Day 7

The 15-year-old freestyle swimmer is the youngest U.S. Olympic swimmer since Amanda Beard, who made the 1996 team at age 14.Photo: Getty Images

15. Adeline Gray, Wrestling

Wrestling: World Championship Budapest 2018 - Day Five

The 30-year-old wrestler is a five-time world champion and the first American wrestler to win five world titles. Gray is also the first U.S. woman to win back-to-back wrestling World titles since Tricia Saunders in 1999. Photo: Getty Images

16. Carissa Moore, Surfing

Jeep Surf Ranch Pro presented by Adobe

The 28-year-old surfer is a four-time World Surf League World Champion. Moore became a member of the Surfers' Hall of Fame in 2014. Photo: Getty Images

17. Alexander Massialas, Fencing

Olympic Fencer Alexander Massialas Trains During Coronavirus Pandemic

The 27-year-old foil fencer is the first U.S. foil fencer to win an individual silver medal at the Olympic Games since 1932. Photo: Getty Images

18. Nyjah Huston, Skateboarding

WS / SLS 2019 World Championship

The 26-year-old skateboarder is a four-time gold medalist at the World Skateboarding Championship and a 12-time gold medalist at the Summer X Games. Huston is also the highest-paid skateboarder in the world.Photo: Getty Images


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