From Novak Djokovic to LeBron James and Kylian Mbappe: The biggest stars ready to steal headlines at 2024 Paris Olympics

In 100 days, all eyes will be on Paris for the start of the 2024 Olympic Games.

The summer sports festival sees the best athletes from around the world battle it out for gold, but this year’s edition is set to be even more star-studded than usual with some truly iconic names set to compete.

The world’s greatest sporting spectacle will take place from July 26 to August 11, with thousands of spectators traveling to the French capital to catch a glimpse of their favorite athletes.

Because among the participants in the Olympics will be some of the biggest stars in sport – here is a list of the top ten who will take part in the Games.

Simone Biles (Gymnastics)

Biles was barely able to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after suffering from a case of “twisties”, a mental block sometimes experienced by gymnasts. This meant she came away with one silver and one bronze medal instead of the six gold medals she was aiming for.

Many expected Biles, already a four-time Olympic champion, to announce her retirement from gymnastics, but the 27-year-old looks better than ever as she prepares for Paris 2024 – winning four gold medals at the Last year’s Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.

Biles is already considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, but she could really cement that status with a dominant performance at the Olympics this summer.

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Novak Djokovic (Tennis)

Djokovic has won everything except an Olympic gold medal. The men’s world number one and 24-time Grand Slam champion said Paris 2024 was a priority for him this year, and it’s easy to see why. The Games will undoubtedly be Djokovic’s last chance to win the title that has eluded him throughout his career.

Djokovic has competed in four Olympics so far, but has only won one medal. His bronze medal at Beijing 2008 was followed by fourth place at London 2012 and Tokyo 2020, and a surprise first-round exit at Rio 2016.

The 36-year-old has had a poor start to the season but should feel right at home at Paris 2024. The tennis tournament will take place on the clay courts of Roland-Garros, where Djokovic has won three Roland-Garros titles .

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LeBron James (Basketball)

NBA star James is set to represent the United States on the Olympic basketball team this summer. He joined Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant on a list of 41 players confirmed by USA Basketball as candidates for the team in January, before reiterating his commitment to compete in February.

“I told myself before the season, when I committed to make the Olympic team, that obviously it all depends on my health,” James said before this year’s NBA All-Star Game. “As it stands right now, I’m healthy enough to be a part of the team and perform at a level that I know I can perform at.”

James has previously competed at the Olympic Games three times, finishing with gold at London 2012 and Beijing 2008, and bronze at Athens 2004.

Eliud Kipchoge (Marathon)

Arguably the biggest name in distance running, Kipchoge will aim to become the first athlete to win three Olympic marathon gold medals following his successes at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

The 39-year-old could even look to regain his status as the world’s fastest marathoner, having held the world record from 2018 until it was overtaken by Kelvin Kiptum last year.

The marathon isn’t the only event Kipchoge has competed in at the Olympics. He also ran the 5000m early in his career, finishing with a bronze medal at Athens 2004 and a silver medal at Beijing 2008.

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Elaine Thompson-Herah (Athletics)

Thompson-Herah is aiming to become the second sprinter after Usain Bolt to win gold medals in the 100m and 200m at three consecutive Olympics. Currently, she is the only female athlete to win the ‘sprint double’, having triumphed in both events at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

The 31-year-old is the fastest woman in the world over 100m and the second fastest in the world over 200m. Her rivalry with five-time 100m world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has made the women’s sprint one of the most entertaining sporting spectacles of recent years.

Thompson-Herah will have one final showdown with Fraser-Pryce, who is expected to retire after the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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Tom Daley (Diving)

Daley will be competing in his fifth Olympic Games this summer, having first competed in the Games when he was just 14 years old.

The British star had to wait until Tokyo 2020 before becoming an Olympic champion, having won a bronze medal at London 2012 and Rio 2016. Daley’s wait for gold ended in the synchronized 10m, before winning another bronze medal in the individual 10m.

The 29-year-old later gave up diving, but came out of retirement last year after his young son expressed a desire to see him compete at the Games. No British diver has ever competed in five Olympic Games before.

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Noah Lyles (Athletics)

Lyles is often touted as the next Usain Bolt, and it’s easy to see why. The 26-year-old is currently the reigning world champion in the men’s 100m and 200m, becoming the third fastest runner of all time in the latter event.

Lyles was one of the favorites for an Olympic gold medal ahead of Tokyo 2020 after winning a 200m world title for the first time in 2019, but he had to settle for a bronze. He will look to improve that in Paris after improving his game in recent years.

The star sprinter admitted he often represents the United States with a “heavy heart” due to his experiences of racism in the country, but wearing the red, white and blue of the Star-Spangled Banner still makes him “extremely proud “.

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Aïtana Bonmati (Football)

While the men’s football tournament at the Olympic Games is aimed primarily at players under the age of 23, the women’s tournament is one of the most prestigious events on the calendar.

Reigning world champions Spain have qualified for the Olympics for the first time and at the heart of their team will be midfield maestro Bonmatí.

The 26-year-old played a crucial role in Spain’s victory at the Women’s World Cup last year, winning the Ballon d’Or after scoring three goals and setting up two more during the tournament. She was later named the winner of the Women’s Ballon d’Or, cementing her status as the best women’s football player in the world today.

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Katie Ledecky (Swimming)

Ledecky has an incredible seven Olympic gold medals, won in three Games so far.

The 27-year-old first came to prominence when she won the women’s 800m freestyle at London 2012, aged just 15. This is the start of a remarkable Olympic journey that currently has no end in sight.

Ledecky’s impressive record at the World Aquatics Championships – 21 titles in total – means she is the most decorated individual swimmer in history. The American still holds the world records in the women’s 800m and 1,500m freestyle, and she will be the swimmer to beat at Paris 2024.

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Kylian Mbappé (Football)

An Olympics host country needs a superstar – France has it in Mbappé. The 25-year-old has made it clear he wants to take part in the men’s football tournament this summer, telling the French TV channel. France 2 that it would “mean everything to me.”

Although the competition is restricted to players under the age of 23, each team is allowed to include three over-age players. But there may be a problem to solve. Mbappe is set to move from PSG to Real Madrid, who do not want any of their players participating in the Olympics. The situation becomes even more difficult with Mbappé likely to represent France at Euro 2024 this summer.

French fans will be waiting with bated breath, so see if Mbappe will also be able to represent his home country at the Olympics.

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