Biles, Ledecky and Taurasi among athletes eyeing Olympic records
By Juan Cisneros,
2024-07-26
(NEXSTAR) — Every four years the best athletes from around the world represent their nations at the summer Olympic games, but for some, the Paris 2024 games could cement their names in the history books.
Gymnastics
FILE – United States gymnast Simone Biles displays her gold medal for floor during the artistic gymnastics women’s apparatus final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 16, 2016. The 27-year-old Biles is returning for a third Olympics, where she will try to earn an all-around gold to bookend the one she captured in 2016 in Rio. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
The already legendary Simone Biles is a heavy favorite to win the individual all-around gold medal in women’s gymnastics. Having already won gold in the category back in 2016, Biles could become just the third woman in history, and first American, to win it twice. But even if she earns a medal that is not gold, Biles would break a tie (7) with Shannon Miller for the most Olympic medals by an American gymnast.
Swimming
FILE – United States’ Katie Ledecky holds up her gold medal after winning the women’s 800-meter freestyle swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Friday, Aug. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)
In swimming, the decorated Katie Ledecky is on the precipice of becoming the woman with the most gold medals in both U.S. and Olympic history.
Ledecky, who is the owner of seven gold medals, needs one to tie American swimmer Jenny Thompson for the lead among American women. With two golds, Ledecky would tie Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most ever. With three gold medals in Paris, she would sit atop the list on her own with 10.
In addition, three medals of any color would see her become the most decorated American female athlete in American history.
In the men’s pool, American Caeleb Dressel could become the athlete with the second-most gold medals in Olympic history, behind fellow swimmer Michael Phelps (23).
Dressel currently holds seven gold medals, and is competing in five events in Paris.
Basketball
FILE – United States’s Diana Taurasi bites her gold medal during the medal ceremony for women’s basketball at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. The 42-year-old guard will be playing in a record sixth Olympics when the U.S. goes for its eighth consecutive gold medal. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
With a gold medal in Paris, the United States women’s basketball team would become the only team in any sport to win eight consecutive gold medals and break a tie with the U.S. men’s team (1936-1968).
On that roster is 42-year-old Diana Taurasi who, with a gold, would surpass former teammate Sue Bird for the most gold medals in a team sport.
For the U.S. men’s basketball team, Kevin Durant could become the first male athlete to win four gold medals in a team sport, which could also be tied by French handball player Nikola Karabatic, if they were to emerge victorious.
Any medal for the U.S. men would see LeBron James become the oldest men’s basketball medalist in history.
Track & Field
FILE – Noah Lyles, from the United States, gestures after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal in the Men’s 4 X 100-meters relay final during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. Lyles is a go for the 100-200 double after capturing both titles at world championships last year. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
For Noah Lyles, winning gold in both the men’s 100m and 200m would make him the first American man to win both in the same games since Carl Lewis in 1984.
In the women’s 100m, Sha’Carri Richardson is looking to become the first American woman to win the event since Gail Devers in 1996. Richardson is the reigning world champion in the 100m.
Reigning gold medalist in the women’s 400m hurdle Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is looking to become the first woman to win multiple gold medals in that event.
A gold for American Ryan Crouser would make him the only athlete to win three Olympic gold medals in shot put.
For two-time defending Olympic gold medalist Eluid Kipchoge of Kenya, another win would cement him as the only runner to win the Olympic marathon three times.
Soccer
FILE – Brazil’s Marta dribbles the ball during a women’s soccer match against China at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 21, 2021, in Rifu, Japan. The Brazilian legend plays in her final Olympics in France before stepping away from the national team. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)
Legendary Brazilian women’s soccer star Marta is two goals away from becoming the all-time leading goal scorer in Olympic history. The 38-year-old could close out her Olympic career surpassing former Brazilian teammate Cristiane, who holds the 14-goal record.
Tennis
** FILE ** This is a Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008 file image of Rafael Nadal of Spain as he reacts to winning a point against Fernando Gonzalez of Chile during their Gold medal singles tennis match at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008. Wimbledon and French Open champion Rafael Nadal won the prestigious Prince of Asturias sports award Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2008 adding more glitter to his already incredible season on the tennis tour. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
Spaniard Rafael Nadal could become the first men’s tennis player to win three Olympic gold medals since Great Britain’s Reginald Doherty accomplished the feat from 1900-1908.
Water Polo
From left, United States’ Maggie Steffens, Ashleigh Johnson, Madeline Musselman, Rachel Fatal and Kaleigh Gilchrist pose for photographers at the end of a news conference of the women’s United States team ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The U.S. women’s water polo team can become the first water polo team to win four straight Olympic gold medals.
FILE – Vincent Hancock, of the United States, pauses as he competes in the men’s skeet at the Asaka Shooting Range in the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Hancock went on to take the gold medal. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
American Vincent Hancock joins swimmer Katie Ledecky on the list of athletes who could win four Olympic golds in the same individual event.
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