After the spectacle of the opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, the real fun begins.
From basketball star Anthony Davis to track and field standout Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, these U.S. Olympians with ties to the commonwealth have the best chance to leave Paris with a gold medal:
Players: Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo and Devin Booker
Explanation: Team USA has won gold in men's basketball during the last four Summer Olympics. This year, the squad added veterans Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid to strengthen the roster. Although the competition has gotten tougher, and key players including Kevin Durant and LeBron James are older, the team should have enough firepower to continue the streak. Davis, Adebayo and Booker should be key contributors.
Competition: Break dancing
Hometown: Born in Tennessee and raised in Kentucky
Explanation: Sunny Choi won a gold medal at the 2023 Pan American Games and silver medals at the 2019 World Urban Games, the 2022 IWGA World Games and the 2023 Pan American Championships.
Sport: Track and field
College: Kentucky
Explanation: Alexis Holmes placed third in the 400 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials, behind Kendall Ellis and Aaliyah Butler, to earn a spot in her first Olympics. All of them ran under 50 seconds; in 2020, Allyson Felix was the only one from Team USA to run under 50 seconds in the Olympics, where she earned a bronze medal . Holmes also has an opportunity to win gold on the women's 4x400-meter relay.
Sport : 3x3 basketball
College: Kentucky
Explanation: Team USA has some veteran leadership with Dearica Hamby and Cierra Burdick. If Rhyne Howard is healthy, she will be the difference-maker on this roster. She nursed an ankle injury earlier this season, so that might affect Howard during the Olympics.
Competition: Para Nordic skiing, Para biathlon, Para-cycling, Para-rowing
Hometown: Louisville
Explanation: Oksana Masters is a 17-time medalist (seven gold, seven silver, three bronze) in the last six Paralympic Games. She earned gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2023 World Championships in Para-cycling.
Sport: Track and field
College: Kentucky
Explanation: McLaughlin-Levrone broke the 400-meter hurdles world record for the fifth time, clocking 50.65 seconds at the U.S. Olympic trials. She won two gold medals at the 2020 Olympics: the 400 hurdles and 4x400-meter relay.
Sport : Track and field
Hometown: Louisville
Explanation: Yared Nuguse finished second in the 1,500 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials.
Sport: Shooting
College: Kentucky
Explanation: Earned a silver medal in 10-meter air rifle team mixed at 2020 Olympics, sixth in 10m air rifle and 13th in 50m rifle 3 positions.
Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Bam Adebayo might be lock for gold medal. Kentuckians with best chance at Paris Olympics
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