Biggest Stars of the 2020 Olympics

By: Eniko

Posted: July 15, 2021

Updated: July 15, 2021

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics starts next Friday, 23rd of July
Legendary athletes, like Simone Biles and Allyson Felix will compete
Along with young stars, Naomi Osaka, Caeleb Dressel and Armand Duplantis

There are only 9 days until the start of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo with several national teams being on their way to Japan. Though a few athletes have announced their withdrawal we can still see some of the greatest athletes of our time. From multiple Olympic champions to the most promising talents. Let’s see the biggest stars of the 2020 Olympics. The best athletes will compete in the 2020 Olympics in all sports from athletics to swimming. Some of them are already well known and multiple champions, like Kevin Durant, Allyson Felix or Simone Biles. While the younger ones are hoping to win their first gold medals this summer. Including Naomi Osaka, Armand Duplantis or Caeleb Dressel. Expectations are high for sure in all countries after a five-year wait for the Games. Let’s hope all of the following athletes can shine in Tokyo.

US legends in the biggest stars of the 2020 Olympics

There is a great choice of top athletes in the US team as they have potential gold medal winners in almost every sport. Lots of them have already won Olympic titles and will go for their next one. Like NBA superstar Kevin Durant, who can lead the American basketball team to another Olympic title. Durant was a member of the team in the previous two Olympics as well, so he can win his third gold medal. Online sportsbooks in the US and all around the world expect an American victory.

Simone Biles can be one of the biggest stars of the 2020 Olympics just like five years ago. The 24-year-old phenomenon has won four gold medals in Rio and one bronze. Now she is aiming to repeat this performance and has every chance of doing so. Biles also won 9 gold medals in the last two World Championships, so it is hard to imagine that anyone can beat her. While the most successful female track and field athlete, Allyson Felix can also win her 7th Olympic gold medal. But even if she doesn’t win, her attendance is a great success after almost losing her life during her pregnancy. In the swimming team Caeleb Dressel can follow the samples of former stars like Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. He has 13 gold medals from the World Championships so far. But he needs to win in the Olympics to become another American legend of the sport.

Top stars from other nations

Japan fans are also hoping for great results from their favorites. Like world No2 woman tennis player Naomi Osaka. The three-time Grand Slam winner withdrew from this year’s French Open and didn’t play in Wimbledon either. But she won the 2021 Australian Open and has been in great form until May. Osaka won’t have an easy job though to win the gold in a field full of other top players. Including the 2021 Wimbledon winner and world No1 Australian Ashleigh Barty. Or the finalist of the last Olympics, German Angelique Kerber. The English team finished second in the medal table in 2016 with 67 medals including 27 gold. In swimming Adam Peaty won the first British gold in Rio since 1988. The two-time world champion and world record holder is the top favorite to win the 100m breaststroke again. French Teddy Riner has been one of the most dominant athletes in judo. He won the Olympics in 2012 and 2016 plus 10 world championship titles. If he wins again, Riner will equal Japanese legend Tadahiro Nomura. While Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis can reach the biggest height with an Olympic gold after his European Championship title.

First Olympic champions can join the biggest stars of the 2020 Olympics

Of course, new stars can emerge as well in the Games with most of them competing only in his/her first Olympics. Like surfer Carissa Moore whose sport will make its debut in the Olympic program. The native Hawaiian is a four-time World Surf League champion. She is the biggest favorite of online gambling sites in the US to win the historical gold. In the men’s competition Brazilian Gabriel Medina is the best who can get even more famous after his Olympic appearance. Sport climbing will also make its first appearance in the Olympics. Where Slovenian Janja Garnbret can win the gold. The 22-year-old won the world championship in 2018 and 2019. Which makes the climber her country’s biggest hope for a gold medal. Japanese Narasaki Tomoa is the top favorite in the men’s event who is also the reigning world champion. Perhaps the biggest excitement follows though the skateboarding competition. Where we can see one of the youngest Olympic athletes, 13-year-old Sky Brown in racing. The British talent is mentioned in the favorites in spite of her young age. But even if she doesn’t win this time, Sky can become one of the biggest stars of the Games.

Athletes who can lead their teams to glory

Finally let’s have a look at some of the biggest stars from team sports. Like football, where most fans will support the defending champions, Brazil. Who will have Dani Alves in its squad. The veteran defender can win his 44th title of his career. Alex Morgan can lead the US women’s football team to glory after the team also won the last World Championship in 2019. We already mentioned Kevin Durant from the US men’s basketball team. We should do the same with Sue Bird, who can win her fifth Olympic gold medal with the US women’s basketball team. Baseball is one of the most famous sports in Japan with several top players featuring in the national team. Like Masahiro Tanaka who returned to the Japanese league from the MLB in order to play in the Olympics. Japan can also fight for the gold in softball with Yukiko Ueno, the fastest pitcher of the game. Last but not least Polish volleyball player Wilfredo Leon can also achieve great success with his new country. The Cuba-born outside hitter has won the World Cup with Poland in 2019 and several Champions League titles with his previous club, Zenit Kazan.