From breaking records to breaking ties — the 2024 Olympics are sure to be a smash! are competing in Paris, France, for over two weeks. Read about some big stories to look out for.
Becoming Record Breakers
All Olympians are trying to be the best in the world. But some are trying to be the best of all time! American swimmer Katie Ledecky has seven gold medals. She could break the women’s record for most gold medals in a sport. It is currently set at nine. If Team USA wins in men’s basketball, Kevin Durant would be the first male athlete with four gold medals in a team sport. Meanwhile, Nino Salukvadze just has to show up to make history. The shooter from Georgia will be the first woman to be in 10 Olympics!
A Family Affair
For some athletes, the Olympics runs in the family. Brothers Chase and Ryder Dodd are water polo players. They will hit the pool for Team USA. “You get a connection with a sibling that you don’t get with your teammates,” Chase said. Minjee and Min Woo Lee are a sister and brother from Australia. They will both go for gold in golf. Canada will be seeing double in 3x3 basketball. Players Michelle and Katherine Plouffe are
twins!
Biles Is Back!
Simone Biles is called the greatest gymnast of all time. The American athlete was a superstar at the 2016 Olympics. But she faced a setback at the last Games in 2021. Biles got the “twisties.” That’s what gymnasts call a block between body and mind. Biles was losing track of her body while twisting in the air. She dropped out of some events. In 2024, Biles is back! She has worked on her
and is on top of her sport. All eyes will be on Biles’ big return.
The Youngest Olympians
You don’t have to grow up to win gold. The youngest Olympian in 2024 is 11-year-old Zheng Haohao. She’s a skateboarder from China. Skateboarding has other young Olympians too. There is 14-year-old Fay DeFazio Ebert of Canada and 15-year-old Sky Brown of Great Britain.
A Friendly Tie-Breaker?
The last Olympics had a heartwarming moment in the high jump. Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi and Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim tied. They asked to share the gold medal, and an official said yes. The two winners jumped for joy! In 2024, Tamberi and Barshim are both back. And they are both favorites to win. Could there be another tie? Probably not. Tamberi said the two friends were ready to have a tiebreaking jump off. That would mean only one winner!
Updated July 26, 2024, 5:02 P.M. (ET)
By Ashley Morgan
