The names, events and storylines to know as the 2024 Olympics kick off

It’s that time again.

The world’s best athletes are set to meet in France for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Feeling like you need a refresher on what’s happening at the quadrennial sports spectacle?

Let’s take a look at the biggest names, events, teams and storylines to know:

Simone Biles’ return

During the Tokyo Olympics, Biles withdrew from both individual and team competitions after experiencing “twisties,” a term for when gymnasts lose control of their body and a sense of where they are while in the air.

Considered the best gymnast ever, she’s back for her third Olympics, looking to recreate the dominance she delivered at the 2016 Games in Rio, where she won four gold medals.

Without Biles, the U.S. fell to silver in the team event behind Russia, the first time since the 2010 world championships the U.S. didn’t win team gold. For both the 27-year-old Biles and the U.S. team, redemption is on the line.

She’s joined by Tokyo returnees Suni Lee (the defending all-around champ), Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey.

And keep an eye on newcomer Hezly Rivera, a 16-year-old from New Jersey, especially on the balance beam.

Katie Ledecky looks to cement GOAT status

Simone Biles looking unstoppable in Olympics practice after ‘twisties’ fallout

Another American considered by many the best ever in her sport, Ledecky can firmly cement that status this summer in her fourth Olympics. She owns seven gold medals (10 medals overall), and has a chance to leave Paris with the most Olympic gold medals in any sport among female athletes. That record is held by gymnast Larisa Latynina, who won nine.

Ledecky, 27, will be a heavy favorite in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle — two events where she has been nearly untouchable — and is expected to have the 400-meter freestyle (a race against Australian rival Ariarne Titmus) and 4×200 relay in her program as well.

Sha’Carri Richardson finally gets her shot

The fastest woman in the world will finally get to prove it on the Olympic stage .

Richardson, 24, qualified for the Tokyo Games, but was declared ineligible to compete after testing positive for marijuana.

The former LSU star came back to win the 100-meter dash at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, and won the event at the U.S. trials in June to qualify for Paris. Her time — 10.71 seconds — was the best by any woman in the world this year.

Jamaican sprinters have won the women’s 100-meter dash at the past four Olympics.

Last hoorah for U.S. men’s basketball veterans

It’s likely the last Olympics for icons LeBron James (39), Steph Curry (36) and Kevin Durant (35). Durant is vying for a record-setting fourth gold medal in Paris against a dangerous international field.

There is a changing of the guard going on for Team USA with younger stars Jayson Tatum (26), Anthony Edwards (22), Devin Booker (27) and Joel Embiid (30) taking over as the next leaders.

No Caitlin, no problem?

Paris Olympics’ blob-like Phyrges the latest head-scratcher in a long line of bizarre mascots

There was rabid discourse following Team USA’s decision to leave superstar Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark off the roster. Critics argued — for both pure basketball reasons and for commercial reasons — that the decision was malpractice.

Head coach Cheryl Reeve said her exclusion was purely on merit. Now, her roster — led by Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson — must prove that decision correct and generate hype on the way to an eighth straight gold.

Noah Lyles out to dominate

The American sprinter has enjoyed one of the most dominant stretches in men’s track history. At the 2023 world championships, Lyles won gold in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 4×100 relay, becoming the first runner since Usain Bolt to complete a “treble.”

He won a bronze medal in the 200-meter dash in the Tokyo Games. Now, the 27-year-old Lyles looks to establish himself as the world’s best. If he runs the 4×400 relay, he could target as many as four gold medals.

Coco Gauff makes Olympics debut

The American tennis star was forced to withdraw from the Tokyo Games after testing positive for COVID-19.

Still just 20 years old, Gauff — the No. 2-ranked player in the world and defending U.S. Open champion — will be the top American player in Paris , where Iga Swiatek stands in her way.

Can Gauff add an Olympic medal to her rapidly growing résumé?

A hooper on the sand

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Remember Chase Budinger? He played seven years in the NBA as a role player.

Now, the 37-year-old Budinger is on a men’s beach volleyball team. A three-time state volleyball champion in high school, he is ranked No. 13 in the world with partner Miles Evans.

What’s new? see also Breaking’s steps from its Bronx beginnings to the Olympics stage: ‘People are gonna see how lit this is’

Breaking, more commonly known as break dancing, will make its Olympic debut . Sixteen men and 16 women will compete in a round robin followed by knockout rounds. Each “battle” will feature a one-on-one contest of one minute in a best-of-three format. A panel of nine judges score the dancers.

American dancer Victor Montalvo is considered the favorite in the men’s event, and Queens-based Sunny Choi is considered a strong competitor on the women’s side.

Kayak cross also is making its Olympic debut. Under the canoe slalom umbrella, it marks the first time in Olympic history that a canoe slalom race features athletes racing each other, not just the clock.

Skateboarding returns for its second Olympics after debuting at the Tokyo Games, as are sport climbing and 3×3 basketball.

All over the map

Surfing also is back for its second Olympics, albeit a bit far away.

The surfing competition will take place over 9,000 miles away from Paris in Teahupo’o in Tahiti.

Multiple open water swimming events — including marathon swimming — are set to take place in the Seine River, which has been a source of controversy and questions about its cleanliness.

Swimming in the river had been banned for over a century due to health concerns. After heavy investment, the Seine’s water has ben tested and deemed safe this month and should be good to go. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo even swam in the river last week to demonstrate its safety.

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