12 Athletes To Look Out For In The Rio Olympics | The Odyssey Online
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12 Athletes To Look Out For In The Rio Olympics

Meet team USA

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12 Athletes To Look Out For In The Rio Olympics
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Its officially less than 100 days until the world turns its attention to Rio De Janeiro for the 2016 Olympics. Here are some of the athletes you'll see if you tune in.

Simone Biles, Gymnastics

Biles is only 19 and has already won three consecutive world all-around titles and had 10 titles in three World Championship appearances. Although she has not yet qualified, she is a favorite not only to make it to Rio but also to win a gold medal or two. So start rooting for her now, as the Olympic trials take place in June.

Jordan Wilimovsky, Open Swimming

Even though the 2016 Games have not even started yet, Wilimovsky has already come in first, being the first swimmer to qualify for the Olympics and the third athlete overall to officially qualify for Team USA. He swam his qualifying time in Kazan, Russia, while competing in the 10K race in the FINA World Championship. Wilimovsky is only the second American ever to win this title. Not to mention, that was his first time swimming the 10K in an international competition—he’s obviously a natural.

Tom Shields, Swimming

You may not have heard of this guy, but you’ve probably heard of the guy he beat by just seconds: Michael Phelps. That’s right, Shields beat the most decorated Olympian at his own game the 100-meter butterfly. Shields is one of quite a few new swimmers making a wave in Olympic history.

Katie Ledecky, Swimming

Ledecky is another swimmer expected to make a splash at the Olympics. This Olympic hopeful went to London in 2012 and competed as the youngest member of Team USA and came home with a gold. Now she’s has a taste of glory and she’s not done yet. Ledecky is certainly one of the boys, and the proof is in her times—she swam fast enough to qualify for the men’s Olympics in 1500-meter and 400-meter races. She even managed to tie Michael Phelps’ time in the 400-meter.

Alexander Massialas, Foil Fencing

Like Ledecky, Massialas started his Olympic career at a young age, being the youngest male athlete on Team USA in 2012. Unfortunately, Massialas did not medal in Beijing but he’s improved quite a bit since then, as he finished 13th in China and is now ranked 3rd in the world.

Ibtihaj Muhammad, Sabre Fencing

Although she is ranked 12th in the world, Muhammad will still be making history at the 2016 Rio Games, being the first American to compete in the Olympics while wearing a hijab.

Justin Gatlin, Track and Field

If you think Justin Gatlin sounds familiar you’re not crazy. Gatlin won medals in the 2004 and 2012 Olympics. Though the 34-year-old sprinter has been banned twice for doping, he’s coming to Rio with some hefty claims. Gatlin has been claiming that this year is the year he beats the famed Usain Bolt at the 100-meter dash.

Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross, Beach Volleyball

Both women have previously won Olympic medals, but this is the first time they’ve been on the same team. Both Walsh Jennings and Ross played beach volleyball for Team USA in Beijing on two separate teams, where Walsh Jennings won gold with Misty May-Treanor and Ross got silver with Jen Kessy. Now Walsh Jennings and Ross will definitely be hitting the sand in Rio together as they have officially qualified to play in the Olympic Games.

Elena Delle Donne, Basketball

Elena Delle Donne has had a successful basketball career, but it has not been without some hills and valleys. Throughout her years playing basketball, she has taken some breaks—once to play volleyball. She has also had some health issues—people thought it might be the end of her time on the court when she contracted Lyme disease. But she’s come through and was even chosen by Nike to model the new Team USA basketball uniform.

Kevin Durant, Basketball

Durant is another basketball star chosen by Nike to show off the new uniforms. He led the USA in 2010 to win the FIBA World Championship and was named MVP by the International Basketball Confederation. This is Durant’s second Olympics; he helped Team USA bring home a gold four years ago in London.

Alex Morgan, Soccer

Earlier this year, in February, Morgan scored three goals in a game against Trinidad and Tobago, and just like that the USA women’s soccer team earned themselves a ticket to Rio.The USA is the current reigning World Champion, and at Rio they'll seek their fourth straight Olympic gold medal and their fifth overall.

Ashton Eaton, Decathlon

Eaton holds two world records and one gold Olympic medal. One of these records was 11 years ago, which Eaton broke at the Olympic trials by scoring 9,039. The second he broke by about two seconds when he ran 1,500-meter in just 4:14:48.

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