The Female Olympians to Watch
After much anticipation and a yearlong delay, the Summer Olympic Games have officially kicked off! It is so inspiring to watch the incredible athletes achieve feats that to us mere mortals seem impossible, unbelievable, and downright jaw dropping. No matter the country you are rooting for, lifelong dreams will be made on the Olympic stage in Tokyo. With so many sports and athletes it can become overwhelming keeping them all straight so we put together a list of the top athletes you should know and keep an eye out for.
Team USA Gymnastics; Jordan Chiles (20 y/o), Sunisa Lee (18 y/o), Grace McCallum (18 y/o), Jade Carey (21 y/o), Mykayla Skinner (24 y/o), and the GOAT, Simone Biles (24 y/o). This is Simone’s second time competing at the Olympic games and the rest of her teammates first time.
Kendall Ellis, 25-year-old track sensation will be competing in her first Olympic games representing the USA. The USC alumnus and New Balance runner will be a rookie to watch.
Team USA Women’s Basketball team: who is led by Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, who are both 5-time Olympians! If they win gold, this will be their seventh straight gold, making it an unprecedented streak in the Olympics. If they win, Bird and Taurasi will be the only basketball players, men or women, to win five gold medals at the Olympics.
You may recognize her last name but equestrian, Jessica Springsteen, has made a name for herself outside of her father Bruce’s shadow. She has been competing since she was a young child and now she is competing on the Olympic stage for the first time in Toyko for team USA.
Team USA Women’s Soccer team: featuring Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan are ready to take center stage and clinch an Olympic gold medal. If they win, they will be the first team to win a gold medal immediately after winning a world championship.
Katie Ledecky, 24-year-old Olympian swimmer who has returned to the Tokyo games to win more gold medals for team USA. If she wins an Olympic gold, she will be the first team USA woman to win five gold medals in Olympic history.
Bryce Wettstein (left) and Brighton Zeuner (right), best friends from California competing for team USA in skateboarding at the age of 16! This is also the first Olympic games where skateboarding is included.
Gwen Berry, the hammer throwing track and field star that is using her platform for activism. She recently made headlines for protesting the American flag. Berry is a three-time national champion, and world record holder for weighted throw which she set in March of 2017.
Simone Manuel, the 24-year-old freestyle swimmer who represents team USA. She previously competed in the 2016 Rio Olympic games where she won two gold and two silver medals. She was the first African-American woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming.
Allyson Felix, the 35 year old track phenom has won the most world-championship gold medals than any track and field athlete, and if she performs well at the Tokyo Olympic games, will be the most decorated female track and field athlete in Olympic history.
