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A Star-Studded Event in Paris

In a matter of days, all eyes will be on Paris as the 2024 Olympic Games commence. The world’s largest sporting event will be held from July 26 to August 11, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators to the French capital to watch their favorite athletes. Among the participants will be global sports stars like LeBron James and Novak Djokovic.

Simone Biles is already considered the greatest gymnast of all time, but she could further cement this status with a dominant Olympic performance. Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics due to the mental block known as the “twisties,” bringing home one silver and one bronze medal instead of the anticipated six golds. Many expected the four-time Olympic champion to retire, but at 27, she looks better than ever as she prepares for the 2024 Paris Olympics, having won four gold medals at last year’s World Gymnastics Championships.

World No. 1 and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has stated that the 2024 Paris Olympics are a top priority for him this year. Given that he has won everything except the Olympic gold, it’s easy to understand his motivation. This may be Djokovic’s last chance to win the title that has eluded him throughout his career. He has participated in four Olympics but only won a medal once. He earned a bronze in Beijing 2008, followed by fourth-place finishes in London 2012 and Tokyo 2020, and an unexpected first-round exit in Rio 2016. The 37-year-old recently suffered a devastating defeat to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, but he feels at home in Paris, having won three French Open titles on the Roland Garros clay courts.

Djokovic will face stiff competition from 22-time tennis champion and “King of Clay” Rafael Nadal, who will be competing in both singles and doubles with Carlos Alcaraz. The 38-year-old skipped Wimbledon to prepare for the Olympic tennis tournament, which will be held on the Roland Garros clay courts where he holds a record 14 French Open titles. Nadal missed most of 2023 due to a hip injury and muscle tear but is aiming for gold in Paris. He won Olympic gold in singles in 2008 and in doubles in 2016.

NBA star LeBron James will represent the United States in Olympic basketball for the first time since London 2012. The 39-year-old, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, will lead a star-studded team alongside Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. “I told myself before the season that my participation in the Olympic team obviously depends on my health,” James said before this year’s NBA All-Star Game. “As it stands, I’m healthy enough to be on the team and perform at the level I know I can.” James has competed in three Olympics, winning gold in London 2012 and Beijing 2008 and bronze in Athens 2004.

Standing at an impressive 2.24 meters, Victor Wembanyama will be the tallest competitor at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with dynamic skills reminiscent of a much smaller player. Wembanyama’s presence makes France one of the strongest teams alongside the USA, Canada, Serbia, and world champion Germany. The 20-year-old is eager for another France-USA showdown. “I can’t wait to face them. It will be a very interesting match,” Wembanyama said. “As a basketball player, it’s a dream to play against Team USA and all these players, these legends.”

Noah Lyles is often referred to as the next Usain Bolt, and it’s easy to see why. The 27-year-old sprinter is currently the world champion in the men’s 100m and 200m sprints, ranking as the third-fastest runner of all time in the latter. Lyles was a favorite for the gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after winning his first world championship in the 200m in 2019, but he had to settle for bronze. In Paris, he aims to improve on that, and given his recent impressive performances, he has a strong chance to do so.