On Friday, the 2016 Summer Olympics kicked off in Rio. At 555 contestants in the game, the U.S. has a lot to be excited about; most of all, the 292 women who are competing on Team USA. This is more women than any team has ever sent to the Olympics, and what’s more, we’re expecting great things out of them. The U.S. team has some of the greatest women All-Star athletes. Here’s who’s going to bring home the gold:
1. Simone Biles.
At 19, she has won the most gold medals in the history of world championships. She has a signature move. She is 4’ 8” and dominates on floor, vaults and balance beam. In fact, she’s expected to take home all three. Her dismount is the hardest in the world; hard enough that she’s the only one who can do it. She is considered literally unbeatable.
2. Kerri Walsh Jennings.
Kerri is returning to the Olympics for the fifth time, after winning gold at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics. She is one of the biggest names in beach volleyball. Oh yeah, she’s also a mother of three and competed in the 2012 Olympics while pregnant. Talk about an amazing soccer mom.
3. Katie Ledecky.
Katie entered the 2012 Olympics at 15-years-old and a nobody. She emerged a gold medalist, and today is the most dominant swimmer in the world. She is by far faster than any other female swimmer in history. If women were allowed to compete in the 1,500 meter swim, she could quite possibly complete the trial faster than any other woman’s 800 meter swim. She will undoubtably be bringing home a gold medal, but will she beat her own record?4. Serena Williams.
We all know and love her. Serena Williams is the queen of tennis, and she’s returning to the Olympics for the fourth time. She’s dedicated, but is known for having a sharp sense of humor. Going into the 2012 Olympics, she was recovering from blood clots and foot problems, but still went on to win a gold medal. She is the single best tennis player in the world, and she will be playing alongside her sister, Venus, in the doubles this year.5. Claressa Shields.
Claressa Shields is the definition of fierce. She was the first American woman to win gold in boxing and returns to the Olympics this year to do it again. In fact, she hasn’t lost a boxing match since the last Olympics: that’s a four-year winning streak. She’s even had a documentary made about her rise to the top.6. Gwen Jorgensen.
Gwen Jorgensen is the triathlon queen. She is a two-time world triathlon champion and has won 17 ITU World Triathlons. In 2014 and 2015, she was the USA Triathlon Elite Olympic-Distance/ITU Athlete of the Year. This woman can literally run circles around everyone else.7. Kim Rhode.
In 2012, Kim Rhode became the first U.S. athlete to win an individual medal at five consecutive Olympic Games. If she wins gold this summer, she will become the first summer Olympian ever to win an individual medal in six consecutive games. The pressure is on.8. Helen Maroulis.
Although this is Helen’s first Olympic Games, she did not lose a single point on the road to world champion in 2015. With a record like that, she’s projected to take home a gold medal.9. Mallory Pugh.
While the entirety of the U.S. Women’s Soccer is a force to be reckoned with, Mal Pugh is at the head of the pack. She is the second youngest Olympian in the history of U.S. women’s soccer. She was called up to the National Women’s Soccer Team at the age of 17, while she was still in high school. She’s captained the under-20 national team all the way to the CONCACAF Championship, and will be leading them to FIFA’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup in November.
