As the 2024 Olympics approaches, get to know these several athletes who have performed and delivered their best in their respective sports last 2023 and now have high hopes for Team USA at this coming summer games in Paris.
Athletes showcase their skills and capabilities, 12 months prior to the Olympic year. Aside from USA’s Simone Biles who is considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, here are five other American athletes who proved that they deserve the spotlight at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Track and Field – Sha’Carri Richardson
Richardson has secured a great performing year by winning sprint races in the Doha Diamond League event, the Miramar Invitational. She had beaten Jamaican athlete Shericka Jackson and double Olympic short sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at the World’s Championships in Budapest with a record of 10.65 seconds ahead in the 100m division. She also bagged bronze in the 200m division, and her presence helped Team USA to take home gold in the 4x100m event.
Her athletic performance in 2023 indeed showed that she had moved on past the penalty that caused her to not play at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. With her determined attitude to win, Richardson can run for greater achievements in the 2024 Olympics, and hopes to make a memorable Olympic debut.
Swimming – Hunter Armstrong
Well-known as “The Magician”, Armstrong had shown surprising results in the past year. He had won gold in the non-Olympic 50-meter backstroke, and also bagged bronze in the 100-meter backstroke at the World Aquatic Championships. More so, he had competed for the gold-winning 4×100-meter medley relay squad.
Will he be able to do more of his magic tricks on the pool at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics?
3×3 Basketball – Jimmer Fredette
When American fans hear the name Jimmer Fredette, his heroics in the NCAA tournament for Brigham Young University and his legendary time in the NBA will first come to mind. Now, it is the start of her career as a 3×3 basketball star.
Fredette is well-known as a veteran basketball player, but he is new to the 3×3 set-up. However, despite the newness of the game, it did not stop him from leading Team USA to achieve gold at the Pan American games, and qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics. They also won silver in the World Cup.
Unfortunately, the men of Team USA did not qualify for the Tokyo Olympics last 2020. It is Fredette and his teammate’s mission to win the first 3×3 medal and bring it home to their beloved country.
Gymnastics – Shilese Jones
After the unfortunate events that had happened in Jones’ life back in 2020–not qualifying for the 2020 Olympics team and the loss of her father due to a kidney disease–she could have easily given up elite gymnastics. However, her commitment had helped her become one of the best gymnasts in the world today.
Jones was part of the U.S. team that competed at the Gymnastics World Championships, and they had won gold. She also won bronze in the all-around and bars.
This Olympics, she is more than determined to continue proving to the world that she is one of the finest gymnasts. With Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, and Gabby Douglas, Jones can be a part of the new American Dream Team.
Wrestling – Zain Retherford
Retherford had an unpleasant season back in 2022, despite winning silver in the world championships. Last year, he came back stronger and took home gold in 70kg.
Having the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials at his alma mater, Penn State, the wrestler will definitely have a huge crown beaming with pride as he begins his journey to the Olympics.
Cover Photos: IG
Source: Olympics.com
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