10 Way-Too-Early Olympic Hype Stories

The 2016 Rio Games are over four months away, and many competitors/teams are still to be determined. That said, it's an Olympic year! It's never too early to be excited.

Much of the talk leading up to Rio has been focused on the negative. Now, the water concerns, Russian athletics ban and Zika virus are no small issues, but barring anything radical, there will be competition come August.

With the Games will come many positive storylines. There will be a team of refugees for the first time in history. Usain Bolt will look to retain his "world's fastest man" title in his last Olympics ever.

For those Olympics junkies out there, here are 10 stories/videos/dance parties to get your motor running. And stay tuned over the summer—the hype will only grow from here.

Michael Phelps Under Armour Video

American swimmer Michael Phelps came out of retirement in 2014 and later announced his plans to compete in Rio, his fifth Olympics.

As the Games approach, the anticipation of Phelps' performance mounts. He won the 100-meter butterfly event at the Arena Pro Swim Series in January but expressed frustration with his sixth-place performance in the 100-meter freestyle, per the Associated Press (via the Baltimore Sun).

Will he win another gold medal (or a few) in Rio? Will fans get another taste of that Phelps magic that enchanted the world in Beijing in 2008?

Those questions won't be answered for months, but in the meantime, fans can enjoy the Phelps hype with this stellar video from Under Armour. Phelps himself viewed the video at the UA headquarters in Baltimore, and his emotional reaction was enough to take anyone's Olympic excitement up a notch.

'Charme' Dancers

The opening and closing ceremonies are always highly anticipated events during the Olympics. A good (or bad) ceremony can have a lasting effect on the legacy of the Games—just ask Sochi organizers about the creepy, giant bear.  

In Rio, ceremony enthusiasts can look forward to a taste of the local dance culture as part of the festivities.

According to Chris Martins of the Rio Games' official website, "charme" dancers have thrown a regular dance party under an overpass near the Madureira neighborhood every week since 1990. Per Martins, charme is "a dance craze that exploded in Brazil in the 1980s, born out of a passion for American soul music."

In preparation for the Games, folks from Rio 2016 have recruited those dancers for the ceremonies.

Friendly Competition in U.S. Gymnastics

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

There should be no shortage of intrigue as the U.S. women's gymnastics team shakes out over the summer.

Nineteen-year-old Simone Biles has won three straight all-around world championships and is a favorite headed into the Games. She was a finalist for the prestigious AAU James E. Sullivan Award, given annually to America's top amateur athlete.

Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman—who both won individual and team gold in 2012—are hoping to become the first American women to make consecutive Olympic gymnastics teams since 1996 and 2000, according to Nick Zaccardi of NBC Sports. Douglas has looked dominant in March, winning the American Cup and the all-around competition at the City of Jesolo Trophy event in Italy.

Biles is likely to be Douglas' biggest competition in the attempt to defend her all-around Olympic gold medal, but according to Kiratiana Freelon of The Root, Biles said the two are "like sisters."

Will Neymar Play for Brazil?

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To play in the Copa America and the Olympics would be a tall task for FC Barcelona star Neymar, as noted by Bleacher Report's Matt Jones, but it's something he might want to take on.

According to Goal.com, Neymar said in March, "For me, to play once again at the Olympics would be a dream, a great honor to represent Brazil once again at the Games, especially as these will take place back home."

The Copa America is scheduled for June 3-26 in the United States, and the Olympic tournament will follow from August 3-20.  

Neymar's Barca teammate, Lionel Messi, plans to play for his native Argentina in the Copa America but not the Olympics. According to ESPNFC, "[Argentina national team coach Gerardo] Martino said on Argentina radio station La Red that it was 'too much' for the Barcelona star to play in both events and also World Cup qualifiers."

NFL Safety to Play Rugby Sevens?

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Rugby sevens will be played for the first time at the Olympics in Rio. That, in and of itself, is an exciting prospect, but it's even more notable that an NFL player could be part of the action.

New England Patriots safety Nate Ebner will attempt to make the U.S. team during the NFL offseason. According to Nick Zaccardi of NBC Sports, Ebner played rugby at Ohio State and on U.S. junior teams.

USA Rugby performance director Alex Magleby said, "He will be up against it in an already competitive player pool for Rio, but knowing Nate, he will relish in that challenge and will work hard to bring out the best in himself and his U.S. teammates," per a statement from USA Rugby.

Torch Relay

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The torch relay has been a tradition in the modern Olympic Games for decades. In February, the details of Rio's relay were revealed. The flame will be lit in Olympia, Greece, on April 21 and later proceed to an extensive route that will take it to 329 locations across Brazil.  

The theme of the relay will be Carnaval. Mario Andrada, head of communications at Rio 2016 told Around the Rings, "We have pockets of Carnaval in some cities, but this time we will bring it to the whole country."

While in Greece, the torch will make a stop in the Eleonas refugee camp in Athens. According to Reuters, IOC President Thomas Bach said, "The Olympic flame will pass through this camp here and will be shown to the refugees. One of the refugees will be invited to carry the torch."

Other torchbearers, a group that will undoubtedly include some exciting names, will be revealed throughout the relay.

Pros in Boxing?

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Boxing has held out in terms of allowing professionals to compete at the Olympics. However, according to Victor Mather of the New York Times, the sport is "likely to begin allowing professional boxers to compete in 2016."

Not everyone is a fan of the idea, but its adoption appears imminent. Rumors of Floyd Mayweather making an appearance have already surfaced, according to Tim Dahlberg of the Associated Press (via the Star Tribune).

Ching-Kuo Wu, president of the International Boxing Association, told Karolos Grohmann of Rueters, "Professional boxers will be at Rio. I don't know how many but they will be. But they will have to go through the same procedures as everyone else."

The vote on the professional question will happen in May, as Wu told Grohmann, but qualifying events are already happening around the world.

For instance, the Americas Qualifier took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in March. Notably, 18-year-old middleweight Charles Conwell Jr. became the youngest person to ever make the U.S. Olympic boxing team. Also, there is a heavyweight named Cam F. Awesome in the mix. For real.

'A Fighting Chance'

Some of the best parts of the Olympics are the stories behind athlete experiences. In 2016, Olympic lovers will get to go behind the scenes in a unique and powerful way.

Filmmaker Morgan Neville worked with Samsung to create a documentary short "that will tell the inspiring, untold stories of four Olympic Games hopefuls on their quest to overcome remarkable odds and obstacles to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games," according to a statement from Samsung.

The featured athletes are marathoner Tsepo Mathibelle from Lesotho, beach volleyball players Miller Pata and Linline Matauatu from Vanuatu and boxer Yenebier Guillen Benitez from the Dominican Republic.

The documentary is scheduled for release in April, but the trailer itself is enough to feed the Olympic excitement.  

Refugee Olympic Athletes

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For the first time, the Olympic Games will feature a team comprised of refugees, the Refugee Olympic Athletes (ROA).

Included in the 43 hopefuls are Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini and judokas Popole Misenga and Yolande Mabika from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In 2012, Mardini competed in the FINA World Championships in Turkey. She fled Syria in 2015 and now lives in Germany. During her journey, Mardini and her sister helped pull a rubber boat of other refugees from Turkey to Greece, swimming alongside the vessel after it began to take on water, per a report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

According to Jonathan Watts and Ana Terra Athayde of the Guardian, Misenga and Mabika applied for asylum in Brazil during the 2013 World Judo Championships.

IOC President Thomas Bach estimates the final ROA team will include somewhere between five and 10 athletes. 

Bolt's Last Rodeo

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Like America's Phelps, Jamaica's Bolt will attempt to continue his dominance of a sport in Rio, even as age creeps up on him.

The 29-year-old Bolt won gold in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4x100-meter relay events at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Recently, he also swept those three events at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing. He holds the individual world records in the 100-meter and 200-meter events, with times of 9.58 and 19.19, respectively.

Until recently, it was unclear if Rio would be Bolt's last Olympic go-around. However, the sprinter, who will turn 30 in August, confirmed in March that it would be.

As for his aspirations, Bolt told an AFP subsidiary (via the Jamaica Observer), "My biggest dream at the Olympics is to win three gold medals again. That's my focus, that's what I want. And that's what I'm aiming for because that's my goal and that's my dream."