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Team USA Gold-Medal Hopefuls for 2024 Paris Olympics

David KenyonJul 24, 2024

More than 500 athletes will be representing the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and dozens of them are expected to bring home a coveted gold medal.

On the individual side, Team USA boasts international stars like Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, Noah Lyles and so many others. There are dozens of defending Olympic and World Cup champions scattered across the ultra-talented U.S. delegation in France.

And that's even before highlighting the teams.

Between basketball, soccer and a host of relays in the swimming pool and on the track, the American contingent is a leading contender for several collective golds, as well.

If you like gold medals, you might love these athletes soon.

More Team USA Members to Know

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Nelly Korda
Nelly Korda

Team USA Men

  • Gavin Bottger, park skateboarding
  • Aaron Brooks, wrestling
  • Nyjah Huston, street skateboarding
  • Victor Montalvo, breaking
  • Chris Nilsen, pole vault
  • Fred Richard, artistic gymnastics
  • Sam Watson, speed climbing

Team USA Women

  • Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes, beach volleyball
  • Amit Elor, wrestling
  • Coco Gauff, tennis
  • Nevin Harrison, canoe
  • Casey Kaufhold, archery
  • Nelly Korda, golf
  • Caroline Marks, surfing
  • Hannah Roberts and Alise Willoughby, BMX
  • Jennifer Valente, cycling
  • Team USA Soccer, Volleyball and Water Polo

Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele

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AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 12: Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele play the 17th green during the second round of  Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 12: Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele play the 17th green during the second round of Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

So far in 2024, the story of professional golf revolves around Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.

The world's No. 1 player, Scheffler has already piled up six victories this season. Along with securing his second green jacket at the Masters, he won marquee events like The Players Championship and the Memorial.

Schauffele heads to Paris on a hot streak, winning the PGA Championship and The Open in 2024. He's the defending gold medalist, too.

Team USA swept the golf tournaments in Tokyo, and there's a decent chance it happens again in these Olympics.

Simone Biles and Team USA Gymnastics

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MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES - JUNE 30: Jordan Chiles, Leanne Wong (alternate), Joscelyn Roberson (alternate), Jade Carey, Simone Biles, Hezly Rivera, and Suni Lee stand after being named at the U.S. Olympic Team for women's gymnastics at Target Center in Minneapolis, United States on June 30, 2024. (Photo by Nikolas Liepins/Anadolu via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES - JUNE 30: Jordan Chiles, Leanne Wong (alternate), Joscelyn Roberson (alternate), Jade Carey, Simone Biles, Hezly Rivera, and Suni Lee stand after being named at the U.S. Olympic Team for women's gymnastics at Target Center in Minneapolis, United States on June 30, 2024. (Photo by Nikolas Liepins/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Simone Biles is easily one of the biggest names on Team USA.

However, we're certainly not about to overlook an incredibly stacked group of Americans in artistic gymnastics.

Along with Biles—the clear all-around favorite—both Suni Lee and Jordan Chiles are also strong medal contenders. Because of the two-per-country rule, however, a likely worthy finalist from the U.S. will be left out. Lee brought home the all-around gold in Tokyo.

Biles is the individual favorite in vault with Jade Carey as a medal threat. Biles and Lee are Team USA's leading hopes on beam, with Lee the biggest American contender on the uneven bars.

Carey won gold in floor exercise in 2021, following Biles' crown in 2016. Chiles joins them as a medal contender in 2024.

Rounding out the roster is 16-year-old Hezly Rivera. Altogether, they'll be aiming to reclaim the team all-around gold.

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Athletes (Track and Field)

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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

In a bit of a good news/bad news situation, I cannot list all of the possible U.S. track and field athletes. If your favorite one is left out, it's simply a matter of Team USA sending dozens of talented runners to Paris.

What a nice problem to have, huh?

The featured sprinter is Noah Lyles, who's chasing 100- and 200-meter glory. Kenny Bednarek (200m), Quincy Hall and Michael Norman (400m) and Bryce Hoppel (800m) are other men's medal contenders.

Grant Holloway is the favorite in the 110-meter hurdles, and Rai Benjamin is among the best at the 400-meter distance.

Sha'Carri Richardson (100m and 200m) has a shot at the sprint double with Gabby Thomas in 200-meter contention. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (400m hurdles) is a well-known name after her gold in Tokyo, and Masai Russell (100m hurdles) is a leading threat, too.

Additionally, the United States is expected to perform well in the relays for men's, women's and mixed competitions.

Ryan Crouser—a two-time gold medalist—and Joe Kovacs are front-runners in shot put, as is Chase Jackson on the women's side. Also, keep an eye on Valarie Allman (discus), Tara Davis-Woodhall (long jump), Anna Hall (heptathlon), Katie Moon (pole vault) and DeAnna Price (hammer).

Men's and Women's Swimming

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Katie Ledecky
Katie Ledecky

Where should we start?

How about the most recognizable name: Katie Ledecky. Already the winner of six individual Olympic golds, Ledecky is a top contender in the 400-, 800- and 1,500-meter freestyle races, especially the latter two.

As we've become accustomed to seeing, Team USA is full of medal threats in both men's and women's swimming.

Some quick-hitters for U.S. women: Lilly King (100m) and Kate Douglass (200m) in breaststroke; Douglass (200m) and Katie Grimes (400m) in the individual medley; Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske may finish one-two in the 100-meter butterfly, and Regan Smith targets 200-meter butterfly gold.

Smith is a lead contender in the 100- and 200-meter backstrokes, and she may share the 200-meter back podium with Phoebe Bacon, as well.

Caeleb Dressel's strongest event is likely the 100-meter fly, although he's also the defending champ in the 50-meter free.

Ryan Murphy medaled in both the 100- and 200-meter backstroke in Tokyo but is aiming for gold in both disciples this time around. Bobby Finke, meanwhile, is looking to claim a second consecutive gold in the 800- and 1,500-meter frees.

Chase Kalisz is the defending champ in the 400 IM, and he's a top contender along with Carson Foster.

As with Team USA on the track, expect several medals—and multiple golds—from relays in the pool.

Men's and Women's Basketball

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TOKYO, JAPAN August 8:  The United States Women"u2019s basketball team in victory pose after the gold medal presentation after the Japan V USA basket final for women at the Saitama Super Arena during the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games on August 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN August 8: The United States Women"u2019s basketball team in victory pose after the gold medal presentation after the Japan V USA basket final for women at the Saitama Super Arena during the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games on August 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Among the four basketball events in Paris, the United States is expected to secure three gold medals.

The talent-rich men's 5x5 roster is hoping to continue its Olympic dominance with a fifth straight gold. LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry are just three of many superstars representing the country.

On the women's side, both the 5x5 and 3x3 teams are absolutely loaded. The programs each won gold in Tokyo, and the 5x5 team is seeking its eight consecutive Olympic gold.

The outlier is men's 3x3, though the roster—with former college star Jimmer Fredette—is certainly a medal contender.

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