International sports stars give the honor

Paris 2024 Olympics - International sports stars give the honor

International athletes and competitors numbering around 10,500 are set to participate in the Olympic Summer Games 2024 in Paris. While many of the broader measures may be unfamiliar, there are also renowned sportsmen and women who are vying for medals. Here are some of the biggest sports stars who have announced their participation:

Angelique Kerber

The official opening ceremony for the Olympic Summer Games 2024 in Paris is scheduled for July 26. A well-known German athlete caused quite a stir a day before the opening ceremony. The successful tennis player Angelique Kerber (36) announced on Instagram that she would be at the "starting line" and that it would be her last professional tennis tournament. After her last match at the Olympics, she plans to retire from her active tennis career. Kerber is a Wimbledon champion and finished second at the Olympics in 2016, earning a silver medal. However, her first match presents a significant challenge: her opponent is the four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka (26) from Japan.

Alexander Zverev

German hopes rest on tennis stars as well: Alexander Zverev (27). The Olympic champion from Tokyo faces stiff competition, however. Among the participants is the Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz (21), who is considered one of the major medal contenders. Zverev could also face Novak Djokovic (37) of Serbia, but Djokovic may first have to contend with Rafael Nadal (38) of Spain.

Malaika Mihambo

German hopes include Malaika Mihambo (30), the athletics star. She won the long jump title at the European Championships in Rome in June and now hopes for Olympic gold. Mihambo was successful at the previous games in Japan as well. At the Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo, which took place in 2021 due to the Corona pandemic, she finished at the top of the podium.

Simone Biles

Simone Biles (27) is a star in gymnastics, and she plans to prove it in Paris. The US athlete has collected 30 medals, including the most in gold, at previous World Championships. At the Olympic Games, she has already earned seven medals, four of which were gold. Despite withdrawing from several events at the Tokyo games due to mental health issues, Biles still managed to win a bronze medal.

Léon Marchand

French swimmer Léon Marchand is only 22 years old but has already surpassed swimming legend Michael Phelps (39). In 2023, he broke Phelps' 400-meter individual medley record set in 2008 by 1.35 seconds at the World Championships. Given the high expectations, this was hardly surprising. Other swimming stars at the Olympics include US athletes Katie Ledecky (27) and Caeleb Dressel (27).

Sha'Carri Richardson

Sha'Carri Richardson (24) from the USA drew attention to herself once again last month. The sprinter secured her spot for Paris with a world-leading time of 10.71 seconds over 100 meters. For Richardson, the Olympics represent a new opportunity, as she missed the Tokyo games due to a positive drug test for marijuana use.

LeBron James

Lastly, basketball legend LeBron James (38) is set to make his Olympic debut. The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and four-time NBA champion has won numerous accolades in his professional career and is looking to add an Olympic gold medal to his collection. James and his team, the United States, are considered strong contenders for the gold medal in the men's basketball tournament.

The largest name among the participants is LeBron James (39). The NBA star is part of the US roster alongside similarly renowned colleagues such as Steph Curry (36) and Kevin Durant (35). "King James," as he is fondly called, is also known for his work in film and television. In "Space Jam: A New Legacy," he took on the lead role, effectively inheriting the legacy of the legendary Michael Jordan (61). Other basketball greats on the Olympic court include Germany's NBA star Dennis Schröder (30) and French phenom Victor Wembanyama (20), who was chosen as the Rookie of the Year – the best newcomer of the year – in the US league in 2024.

1. Paris, the city of lights, is preparing to host the Olympic Summer Games 2024, where 10,500 international athletes will participate.
2. The German tennis player, Angelique Kerber, announced her participation in the Olympic Summer Games 2024, stating it would be her last professional tournament.
3. At the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Kerber finished second, earning a silver medal, and now aims for Olympic gold in Paris.
4. Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan, is Kerber's opponent in the first match of her last tournament.
5. Alexander Zverev, another German tennis star, will also participate in the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris, facing stiff competition.
6. Simone Biles, a US gymnast with 30 medals, including 14 in gold, is set to prove her stellar skills at the Paris Olympics.
7. Despite missing the Tokyo games due to a drug test for marijuana use, Biles considers the Paris Olympics a new opportunity to add to her medal collection.
8. LeBron James, the four-time NBA MVP, will make his Olympic debut in Paris, aiming to add an Olympic gold medal to his impressive career accolades.
9. In "Space Jam: A New Legacy," James took on the lead role, following in the footsteps of basketball legend Michael Jordan, a testament to his enduring fame and talent.

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