The 2024 Paris Olympics are officially underway, and Arizona is being featured on the global stage, from archery to wrestling. So far, The Republic has identified 80 athletes and coaches with ties to the state who are at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
With so many athletes competing across the Olympics, which last until Aug. 11, we have created a viewing guide for some of the Arizonans with the best chances to medal to make for easier viewing. This is not a ranking list or the only athletes with a shot at a medal in Paris.
Most of the athletes on this list are competing in individual sports. It's no secret that Team USA is the heavy favorite to win the gold medal in both women's and men's basketball, which features a handful of Mercury and Suns players.
Here are 10 Arizonans to watch — and when — at the 2024 Paris Olympics. All times are local, Phoenix time. NBC is broadcasting the Olympics live on TV and streaming it live on Peacock.
Léon Marchand, men's swimming
- Affiliation: Arizona State
- Events: 400-meter individual medley (Heats: Sunday, July 28, 2 a.m.), (Final: Sunday, July 28, 11:30 a.m.) , 200-meter butterfly (Heats: Tuesday, July 30, 2 a.m.), (Semifinals: Tuesday, July 30, 11:42 a.m.), (Final: Wednesday, July 31, 11:36 a.m.), 200-meter breaststroke (Heats: Tuesday, July 30, 2 a.m.), (Semifinals: Tuesday, July 30, 12:37 p.m.), (Final: Thursday, Aug. 1, 11:37 a.m.) , 200-meter individual medley (Heats: Thursday, Aug. 1, 2 a.m.), (Semifinals: Thursday, Aug. 1, 12:35 p.m.), (Final: Friday, Aug. 2, 11:43 a.m.)
Marchand, a junior who has turned professional, honed his craft in Tempe under legendary (now former ASU) coach Bob Bowman, and he's on the verge of becoming a household name after dominating the NCAA. He's already broken a world record held by Michael Phelps, also famously coached by Bowman, and it likely won't be the last one he breaks.
Jagger Eaton, men's skateboarding
- Affiliation: Mesa
- Event: Street (Prelims: Monday, July 29, 3 a.m.), (Final: Monday, July 29, 8 a.m.)
He's been one of the faces of Team USA's marketing campaign for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Eaton burst onto the scene as an 11-year-old prodigy at the X Games in 2012 and has delivered on the lofty expectations, winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the first year of the sport at the Olympic level — all on a broken ankle. Healthy now, he's a heavy favorite again to be on the podium in Paris.
Freddie Crittenden III, men's track and field
- Affiliation: Phoenix
- Event: 110-meter hurdles (First round: Sunday, Aug. 4, 2:50 a.m.), (Semifinal: Wednesday, Aug. 7, 10:05 a.m.), (Final: Thursday, Aug. 8, 12:45 p.m.)
The former Syracuse athlete now lives and trains in the Valley at GCU under Tim O'Neil — the former Brophy Prep coach who convinced Devon Allen to do the hurdles while in high school — with the Phoenix Track Club. Crittenden, who nearly left the sport after the 2021 Olympic Trials, is in the best form of his life and could be part of a 1-2-3 American sweep in the event.
Jade Carey, women's gymnastics
- Affiliation: Mountain Ridge High School
- Event: Women's Team (Tuesday, July 30, 9:15 a.m.)
She took the world by storm with her stellar floor exercise at the Tokyo Olympics, winning a gold medal. Fans greeted her at Sky Harbor Airport upon her arrival . This time in Paris, she will try to win another gold medal in a different event — the women's team competition. The U.S. finished second to the Russian Olympic Committee in Tokyo in the event.
Kennedy Blades, women's wrestling
- Affiliation: ASU, Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
- Event: 76-kilogram freestyle (1/8 Finals: Saturday, Aug. 10, 2:30 a.m.), (1/4 Finals: Saturday, Aug. 10, 3:50 a.m.), (Semifinals: Saturday, Aug. 11, 9:55 a.m., 10:05 a.m.), (Bronze medal: Sunday, Aug. 11, 4:20 a.m., 4:30 a.m.)(Final: Sunday, Aug. 11, 4:45 a.m.)
Blades is one of the promising young names on the wrestling circuit. She attends ASU but trains at the famed Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club in Tempe (the club has five athletes competing in Paris). Blades is one of the betting favorites on the market to bring back a gold medal, which would add to the tremendous legacy of Sunkist in the final Olympics for the club.
Brandon McNulty, men's cycling
- Affiliation: Deer Valley High School
- Events: Time trial (Final: Saturday, July 27, 7:32 a.m.), Road race (Final: Saturday, Aug. 3, 2 a.m.)
The former phenom came close to making the podium in the road race at the Tokyo Olympics, riding in the lead pack before ultimately finishing sixth. McNulty has since shifted most of his focus to the time trial, an event in which he won a world junior championship. He's one of the most respected riders known for his all-around ability and should be in contention in both events in Paris.
Cameron Wood, men's BMX
- Affiliation: Peoria
- Event: BMX racing (Quarterfinals: Thursday, Aug. 1, 11 a.m.), (Semifinals: Friday, Aug. 2, 11 a.m.), (Final: Friday, Aug. 2, 12:35 p.m.)
After moving to Arizona from Montana when he was 16 years old to pursue a career in the sport, Wood has seen the decision pay off. The 22-year-old is now one of the best BMX riders in America and is heading to his first Olympics. Wood has two World Cup victories to his name entering Paris and has a real chance to make the podium and get a medal.
Jon Rahm, men's golf
- Affiliation: ASU
- Event: Golf individual stroke play (Round 1: Thursday, Aug. 1, 12 a.m.), (Round 2: Friday, Aug. 2, 12 a.m.), (Round 3: Saturday, Aug. 3, 12 a.m.), (Round 4: Sunday, Aug. 4, 12 a.m.)
Rahm, who was offered a scholarship by ASU before even being seen by the coaches in person , has morphed into one of the world's top golfers since leaving the school. He's won the U.S. Open and the Masters and enters the 2024 Paris Olympics as the highest-paid overall professional athlete. While Scottie Scheffler from the U.S. comes in as the betting favorite for the gold, Rahm is someone to watch for with his proven ability to win at the sport's highest level.
Delaney Schnell, women's diving
- Affiliation: Tucson Magnet High School, University of Arizona
- Events: Synchronized 10-meter platform (Final: Wednesday, July 31, 2 a.m.), 10-meter platform (Prelims: Monday, Aug. 5, 1 a.m.), (Semifinals: Monday, Aug. 5, 6 a.m.), (Tuesday, Aug. 6, 6 a.m.)
Schnell and her partner in the synchro 10-meter platform, Jessica Parratto, were the first Americans ever to win a medal (silver) in the event at the Tokyo Olympics when she was a 22-year-old junior at Arizona. The pair also won a bronze at the 2024 World Championships. Parratto thought she was done with the sport after Tokyo until Schnell convinced her to come back, according to NBC. Schnell is one of the few American divers competing in multiple events.
Brady Ellison, men's archery
- Affiliation: Globe-Miami
- Events: Men's individual (1/32 Elimination round: Thursday, Aug. 1, 1:48 a.m.), (1/16 Elimination round: Thursday, Aug. 1, 2:40 a.m.), (1/8 Elimination round: Sunday, Aug. 4, 12:30 a.m.), (Quarterfinals: Sunday, Aug. 4, 4 a.m.), (Semifinals: Sunday, Aug. 4, 4:52 a.m.) (Bronze medal: Sunday, Aug. 4, 5:33 a.m.), (Gold medal: Sunday, Aug. 4, 5:46), Mixed team (1/8 Elimination round: Friday, Aug. 2, 2:24 a.m.), (Quarterfinal: Friday, Aug. 2, 5:15 a.m.), (Semifinal: Friday, Aug. 2, 6:31 a.m.), (Bronze medal : Friday, Aug. 2, 7:24 a.m.), (Gold medal: Friday, Aug. 2, 7:43 a.m.)
He's technically already started his Olympic competition, as archery was one of the sports that began before the opening ceremony. Ellison finished seventh overall in the individual ranking round and has the elimination rounds coming up, as well as the mixed team event. Simply put, the Globe-Miami native is one of the best archers ever. He owns a world record and is a five-time Olympian who has won three Olympic medals during his career. But a gold medal has eluded him. Finally, claiming gold in Paris would be the cherry on top.
Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, ASU and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@gannett.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe .
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Top 10 Arizonans with best medal chances at 2024 Paris Olympics: How to watch
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