Paris Olympics: 22 international athletes to watch

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Olympics is the only sporting event that brings together the best athletes across the globe, and Paris 2024 will be no different.

Numerous global superstars in basketball, tennis, golf, soccer, and more will be in the French capital. Here are 22 international athletes to watch during this summer’s Olympics in Paris, which begin in a little over one week.

Emma McKeon (Swimming, Australia): No athlete won more medals at the Tokyo Games than McKeon. The 30-year-old claimed seven in 2021, including four golds.

Ariarne Titmus (Swimming, Australia): In Tokyo, Titmus won two gold medals, including a 400-meter freestyle win over Katie Ledecky. Once again, she will race against Ledecky in the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle events.

Leon Marchand (Swimming, France): Marchand, 22, will be the swimmer who the French will rally around. The Toulouse native has won four world titles and holds the 400 individual medley world record. He will race in four individual events.

Shericka Jackson (Track, Jamaica): With the defending double sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah not in Paris, Jackson will be a contender for both golds. She still seeks her first individual Olympic title.

Mondo Duplantis (Pole Vault, Sweden): The 24-year-old born in Louisiana represents Sweden and is the world record-holder in the pole vault. He aims to become the first repeat men’s pole vault winner at the Olympics since 1956.

Yaroslava Mahuchikh (High Jump, Ukraine): The 22-year-old from Dnipro made headlines recently after breaking a 37-year-old high jump world record. Mahuchikh took bronze in Tokyo and the world title last year.

Eliud Kipchoge (Track, Kenya): The only man to run a sub-two-hour marathon can achieve another superhuman feat in Paris. Kipchoge will try to become the first man to win three Olympic marathons.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Basketball, Greece): The “Greek Freak” has become one of the top NBA players and helped lead Greece to its first Olympics since 2004. His presence makes Greece a medal contender.

Victor Wembanyama (Basketball, France): Wemby returns to his home country after a historic rookie season with the San Antonio Spurs. At 7 feet 4 inches, the 20-year-old will pair with 7-1 veteran Rudy Gobert to form a fearsome frontcourt.

Nikola Jokic (Basketball, Serbia): The three-time NBA MVP from the Denver Nuggets looks poised to play in his third Olympics. Jokic hopes to lead Serbia to its first basketball gold as an independent nation.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Basketball, Canada): Canada is in the Olympics for the first time since 2000 and its roster includes ten NBA players. They will be led by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led Canada to a bronze at last year’s World Cup.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 10: Emma McKeon of Queensland celebrates winning the Women’s 100m Butterfly Final during the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials at Brisbane Aquatic Centre on June 10, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 10: Ariarne Titmus of Queensland celebrates winning the Women’s 400m Freestyle Final in a time of 3:55.44 during the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials at Brisbane Aquatic Centre on June 10, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
France’s Leon Marchand competes in the men’s 400m individual medley final during France’s national swimming championships at Chartres, central France on June 17, 2024, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – SEPTEMBER 08: Shericka Jackson of United States wins the Diamond League women’s 200 meters race at Roi Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium on September 08, 2023. (Photo by Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – JUNE 12: Armand Duplantis of Sweden competing in the Pole Vault Men Final during Day Six of the European Athletics Championships – Rome 2024 at Stadio Olimpico on June 12, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 07: Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine reacts after winning the High Jump Women during the Paris 2024 Diamond League at Stade Charlety on July 07, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)
BERLIN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 24: Winner Eliud Kipchoge celebrates as first male finisher during the 2023 BMW Berlin-Marathon on September 24, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Marvin Ibo Guengoer/Getty Images)
PIRAEUS, GREECE – JULY 3: Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece, NBA player for Milwaukee Bucks during the FIBA Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament match between Dominican Republic and Greece on July 3, 2024 in Piraeus, Greece. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
ROUEN, FRANCE – JULY 03: Victor Wembanyama of France in action during the International Friendly match between France and Turkiye on July 03, 2024 in Rouen France. (Photo by Christian Liewig – Corbis/Getty Images)
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – SEPTEMBER 03: Nikola Jokic of Serbia during the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 group D match between Czech Republic and Serbia at O2 Arena Prague on September 3, 2022 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Pedja Milosavljevic/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – SEPTEMBER 10: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Canada during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 3rd Place game between USA and Canada at Mall of Asia Arena on September 10, 2023 in Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Ariana Saigh/Getty Images)

Julian Alvarez (Soccer, Argentina): At just 24, Alvarez has already won a World Cup, UEFA Champions League title, and an English Premier League title. He hopes to join Argentine legends like Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero as an Olympic champion.

Marta (Soccer, Brazil): Paris will be the swan song for Marta, one of the greatest players of all-time. The 38-year-old will retire from international play after what will be her sixth Olympics.

Aitana Bonmati (Soccer, Spain): The best women’s player in the world stars for the World Cup champions Spain. The 26-year-old’s résumé is full of accolades with Barcelona and Spain but hopes to win her maiden Olympic gold.

Rory McIlroy (Golf, Ireland): McIlroy has tasted success before at Le Golf National with Team Europe at the Ryder Cup. The 35-year-old fell in a seven-man playoff for the bronze medal at the Tokyo Games.

Viktor Hovland (Golf, Norway): Among the Norwegian stars with medal aspirations is Hovland. The 2023 Memorial winner will hope the European crowd plays to his advantage at the Olympics.

Ko Jin-young (Golf, South Korea): Behind America’s Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu in the world golf rankings is South Korea’s Ko Jin-young. The 29-year-old is a two-time major winner and will be in the mix for a medal.

Gabriel Medina (Surfing, Brazil): The 30-year-old enters the Olympics as the surfing favorite. Medina is a three-time world champion and three-time World Games gold medalist.

Ma Long (Table Tennis, China): Long is widely considered to be the best table tennis player of all time. The 35-year-old has won five Olympic golds and could win his third singles gold.

Novak Djokovic (Tennis, Serbia): Djokovic is towards the twilight of his career and Olympic gold still eludes him. The 24-time Grand Slam champion earned bronze in 2008 and came close to a medal in Tokyo.

Rafael Nadal (Tennis, Spain): Nadal has won 14 French Opens at the famed Roland Garros clay courts, which will host the Olympic tennis tournaments. He will chase his second singles gold and will play doubles with singles favorite Carlos Alcaraz.

Iga Swiatek (Tennis, Poland): The best clay court women’s player is Swiatek who looks to make history for Poland. The 23-year-old has won four of the last five French Opens. She is also set to play mixed doubles with Hubert Hurkacz.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JUNE 20: Julian Alvarez of Argentina celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the CONMEBOL Copa America group A match between Argentina and Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 20, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO – APRIL 09: Marta #10 of Brazil follows the ball during the first half of the 2024 SheBelieves Cup against Japan at Lower.com Field on April 09, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 20: Aitana Bonmati of Spain celebrates with the trophy during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Final match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia on August 20, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images,)
Saitama , Japan – 1 August 2021; Rory McIlroy of Ireland watches his teee shot on the fourth hole during round 4 of the men’s individual stroke play at the Kasumigaseki Country Club during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games in Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Norway’s Viktor Hovland watches his drive from the 9th tee in round 2 of the mens golf individual stroke play during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe on July 30, 2021. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)
South Korea’s Ko Jin Young watches her drive from the 1st tee in round 4 of the womens golf individual stroke play during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe on August 7, 2021. (Photo by YOSHI IWAMOTO / AFP) (Photo by YOSHI IWAMOTO/AFP via Getty Images)
SAQUAREMA, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JUNE 26: Three-time WSL Champion Gabriel Medina of Brazil after surfing in Heat 6 of the Opening Round at the VIVO Rio Pro on June 26, 2024 at Saquarema, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Thiago Diz/World Surf League via Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 06: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Long Ma of China compete in the Men’s Team Gold Medal Team Match between China and Germany on day fourteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on August 6, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tom Weller/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 31: Novak Djokovic of Team Serbia plays a backhand during his Men’s Singles Bronze Medal match against Pablo Carreno Busta of Team Spain on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Tennis Park on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 14: Rafael Nadal of Spain prepares to serve during the singles bronze medal match against Kei Nishikori of Japan on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 26: Iga Swiatek of Team Poland plays a backhand during her Women’s Singles Second Round match against Paula Badosa of Team Spain on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Tennis Park on July 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)