The 33rd edition of the Olympic Games opens on July 26 in Paris, where more than 11,400 athletes have gathered for a frantic race for medals. Among this crowd of athletes, some are superstars in their discipline.
Paris, center of the world for a little over two weeks: the JO 2024 will make the French capital the capital of sport, on which the eyes of the entire planet will turn. A perfect showcase for the champions representing 206 countries, teams and federations. As with every edition of the Olympic Games, stars will emerge, while others will take advantage of Paris 2024 to enter a little more into the history of sport.
Athletics: the wild animals on the track
Is there suspense in the pole vault? The question may not be who will be Olympic champion, but rather whether Armand Duplantis will break the world record again. For four years, the Swede has been crushing the discipline. Renaud Lavillenie’s old record was 6.16m; “Mondo” has improved it centimeter by centimeter to bring it to 6.24m. And it is probably not over for the Tokyo Olympic champion, the overwhelming favourite to succeed him.
The fight looks set to be more competitive in the 100m. In the men’s race, Noah Lyles aims to finally bring gold back to the United States, after years in the shadow of the Jamaicans. But the American will have competition: the young Kishane Thompson And Oblique Seville have amazing reference times and want to succeed their compatriot Usain Bolt, Botswanan Letsile Tebogo has a good card to play, and the Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala can create surprise.
The women’s 100m is also undecided. Three years after missing the Tokyo Games, American Sha’Carri Richardson2023 world champion, is aiming for Olympic consecration. But Jamaica will not easily give up this title in its possession since 2008: Elaine Thompson-Herah will not be there, because she is injured, but Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce made resistance and Shericka Jackson eyeing a 100m-200m double.
The 400m hurdles also promises a lot. In Tokyo, the Norwegian Karsten Warholm and the American Rai Benjamin had fought an epic battle, with the first winning by breaking the world record (45”94). Among the ladies, the real fight seems to be between the boss Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and the stopwatch. For five years, the American has been pushing the limits of the world record, which went from 52”16 to 50”65 under her reign. Beware, however, of the threat posed by the Dutchwoman Female Bowlover 400m hurdles and 4x400m.
Three years ago, the Qatari Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italian Gianmarco Tamberirival friends, had shared the gold medal in the high jump. They are back in Paris. The American Grant Holloway is the big favourite in the 110m hurdles, with the world record of 12”80 in his sights (personal best: 12”81). The Kenyan Eliud Kipchogesoon to be 40, will try to win gold for a third time in the marathon, while her compatriot Faith Kipyegon dreams of a 1,500m/5,000m double. Finally, the Moroccan Soufiane el-Bakkalithe man who has ended Kenyan supremacy over 3 000m steeplewill try to keep his crown.
Team sports: ambitious and legendary players ready for their farewells
Two handball legends are preparing to retire. At home, the Frenchman Nikola Karabatic will experience his last competition, after 22 years of high level. At 40, the triple Olympic champion (2008, 2012, 2021) dreams of a final flight in front of his home crowd. Mikkel Hansen36, playmaker of the formidable Denmark and former teammate of Karabatic at PSG, does not hear it that way. After the final lost in 2021, the Dane, who is also going to hang up his boots, has one last revenge to take against the Blues.
To challenge Fiji’s dominance of rugby sevens, France went looking for Antoine Dupont. Since the beginning of the year, the usual captain of the French XV has been getting used to 7, and so far, it’s been a great success. All that remains is to make it happen at the Games. On the volleyball side, the French would like to relive the emotion of Tokyo by keeping their gold medal. To achieve this, the talent ofEarvin Ngapeth will be very useful.
Can the United States fall from its basketball throne? Team USA rarely lets Olympic gold slip away. After failing to do so in 2016 and 2021, LeBron James will be present, as leader of the American camp. A group which also includes Joel Embiidwho answered the call of the star-spangled banner rather than the French flag. The United States men’s team will have to be wary of some nations with players experienced in the NBA: France will count on the “Extraterrestrial” Victor WembanyamaGreece will bet on the double MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Serbia will be led by the triple MVP Nikola Jokic. In the women’s category, Team USA is also impressive and dominant, with in its ranks The Revenant Brittney Griner.
With rules allowing clubs not to release their players for the Games, there won’t be many football superstars. But a few teams will be able to count on some well-known names. Guinean Naby Keïta will be there, just like the Moroccan Achraf Hakimi. Thierry Henry, the French coach, will not be able to count on Kylian Mbappé, but he will have the experienced Alexandre Lacazette as the main offensive threat. And Julian Alvarez will hope to continue his harvest of titles with Argentina.
Individual sports: fierce battle between regulars and newcomers
He is the new prince of French swimming and he has made these Games a major event. Leon Marchand22, follows in the footsteps of his predecessors Alain Bernard and Yannick Agnel. The swimmer who has won five world titles in the last two years will compete in the 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley. Twelve years after his spectacular performance in London, Florent Manaudou, one of the flag bearers of the blue delegationwill seek a fourth Olympic medal in the 50m freestyle. He will face the American Caeleb Dresselseven times gold in Tokyo and on the comeback after a long period out of competition for mental health reasons. Dressel will share the spotlight with her compatriot Katie Ledeckyten times medalist (7 times gold, three times silver) at the Games since 2012.
In judo, the eyes will turn towards Teddy Riner And Clarisse Agbegnenou. The heavyweight dreams of a third individual gold medal, something no judoka has achieved before him. The Guadeloupean has not lost since his quarter-final at Tokyo 2021. Clarisse Agbegnenou will defend her title in the under 63 kilos and try to erase her recent disappointments at the European and World Championships.
For Rafael Nadalthese Games will perhaps be the swan song. Physically worn out, the Spaniard, Olympic tennis champion in individual in 2008, will taste the Parisian clay again in doubles. The Serbian Novak Djokovicon the other hand, will be in the singles table, still in search of Olympic goldIn golf, Team USA is looking for nothing but gold for its two world No. 1s: Nelly Kordareigning Olympic champion, and Scottie Schefflerwho will participate in the Games for the first time.
The return of a great artistic gymnastics champion will be closely followed. Exceptional in Rio, then victim of ” loss of figures ” in Tokyo due to fragile mental health, the American Simone Biles will be in Paris. For the one who showed during the 2023 World Championships that she had not lost none of his talentthe 2024 Olympics could take on the appearance of revenge. Biles will have the status of favorite, just like Janja Garnbret in climbing: if she is at the top of her game, the Slovenian will not let her chance to win a second gold medal pass her by.
France became passionate about table tennis following brothers Alexis and Félix Lebrun. Both represent good medal chances. But China will not be intimidated. The legend My Long will only be there for the team event, while the top two world champions, Wang Chuqin And Fan Zhendongwill defend the Chinese colours in singles. China also has the highest ambitions in badminton with Shi Yuqinone of the best players in the world.
By mountain bike, Pauline Ferrand-Prévotwho has won so much in his career, is finally hoping for an Olympic podium. The Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel also aspires to a first Olympic medal in the road cycling race. In taekwondo, Ivorian Cheick Cisse can make history by winning a second gold medal in the over 80 kilos category after the one in 2016. In weightlifting, the Georgian Lasha Talakhadze (plus 102 kilos) aims to equal the illustrious Naim Suleimanşoglu by winning a third Olympic champion title. A feat that the Chinese can also accomplish Shi Zhiyong (less than 73 kilos).
In boxing, Estelle Mossely will be the leader of the French delegation and will aim for a second title after that of 2016 in the under 60 kilos. The British triathlete Alistair Brownlee can, for his part, glean a third gold medal after 2012 and 2016. Finally, the sabre fencer Aron Szilagyi can become the first man to win four individual gold medals in fencing.
To consultJO 2024 program and calendar