Among the more than 11,000 athletes present throughout the competition (July 23-August 8), some stars will seek to mark the history of their country and their discipline.

Here are some well-known names that we will find in the foreground in Tokyo, from Simone Biles to Novak Djokovic via Armand Duplantis or even Kevin Durant. 

It is one of the magic of the Olympic Games.

During the two weeks of competition in Tokyo (July 23-August 8), a large majority of little-known athletes will rub shoulders with international stars.

In several disciplines, from athletics to gymnastics to team sports, the best athletes in the world are aiming for the coveted gold medal.

Overview of these famous athletes who are ready to perform at the Tokyo Games.

Athletics

• Allyson Felix (USA)

American sprinter Allyson Felix will play her fifth and last consecutive Olympic Games, at 35, in the 400-meter series.

The Californian is a star of the American delegation, considered one of the greatest sprinters of all time.

She has one of the biggest records in Olympic history, with six gold medals - including five in relay - and three silver medals.

With two new titles at the 2019 world championships in the 4x400-meter relay, Allyson Felix became the most successful athlete in major competition history with 18 gold medals.

The experienced sprinter will want to leave the Olympics on one last beautiful note to mark the history of world athletics a little more.

• Armand Duplantis (SUE)

Pole vault world record holder with a height of 6.18 meters reached in 2020, the Swede Armand Duplantis is the favorite favorite of the Olympic competition.

The one who "took" the record from Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie comes out of a remarkable 2020 season, with the best outdoor jump - 6.15 meters - and four competitions in which he crossed the six meters.

If he repeats such a performance in Tokyo from the height of his 21 years, "Mondo" should be heading towards his first Olympic title.

His main rivals Renaud Lavillenie and the American Sam Kendricks will have to achieve a feat to overtake him.

• Trayvon Bromell (USA)

The men's 100-meter event is orphaned by its great Jamaican star Usain Bolt, three-time Olympic champion, who retired in 2017. The Tokyo Olympics could mark the return of the American sprint to the fore thanks to Trayvon Bromell.

The 26-year-old runner recently posted a sensational time of 9'77 "at a meeting in the United States on June 5, his personal best. The American will aim for Olympic gold in Tokyo, five years old. after leaving the Rio Games in a wheelchair, injured in the final of the 4x100m relay.

• André de Grasse (CAN)

Great challenger to Usain Bolt in the 200 meters in Rio, the Canadian runner André de Grasse had managed to collect Olympic silver in this race, then two bronze medals in the 100 meters and the 4x100 relay in 2016. After crossing Three difficult years, the sprinter returned to his best level at the world championships in Doha in 2019 by winning bronze in the 100 meters, in 9'90 ", setting his new personal best. He also took silver in the 200 The Canadian runner will have to be counted on to take the lead in the sprint races.

Jamaican Usain Bolt congratulates his Canadian opponent, André de Grasse, in the 200 meters final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.


Credits: OLIVIER MORIN / AFP

Basketball

• Kevin Durant (USA)

The American basketball team is pulling out heavy artillery with big names in the NBA.

Alongside Damian Lillard (Portland) and Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), superstar Kevin Durant comes to strengthen the "Team USA" for the Olympics as during his triumphs with the United States in 2012 and 2016. This year, the The Brooklyn Nets winger failed to lead his team to victory in the American Basketball League, despite a very high-level performance in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks (lost 4 games to 3 ).

Its quality of movement, penetration and shooting will make it the central element of the "Dream Team".

• Luka Doncic (SLO)

He too comes from the NBA.

Slovenian Luka Doncic had a great season with the Dallas Mavericks, but failed to qualify his team in the conference semifinals.

The playmaker shines in terms of statistics, with a number of points scored very often high in each game thanks in part to his talent in three-point shooting.

In the national team, the basketball player led his country to victory in the final at the 2017 European Championship. At 22, Luka Doncic will play his first summer Olympic Games, hoping to win a medal.

"For me, it's a pleasure to play for the national team."

- ️ @ luka7doncic # FIBAOQT |

@kzs_si

- FIBA ​​# Tokyo2020 (@FIBA) June 30, 2021

Cycling

• Tadej Pogacar (SLO)

Will he pass two this summer? Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, winner for the second time in a row of the Tour de France last Sunday, aligned with his national team for the Tokyo Olympics. The 22-year-old rider will have to recover physically from the Grande Boucle fairly quickly since the road cycling event is scheduled for Saturday July 24, one week after the arrival of the Tour on the Champs-Élysées. A new sizeable challenge within the reach of the young Slovenian prodigy. He can also aim for a medal in the time trial on July 28.

Yellow Jersey: @TamauPogi



The Slovenian takes his 2nd Tour crown in a row.

The man in Yellow, the man of the moment.



The boss of # TDF2020 has confirmed!

The Slovenian is crowned for the second time in a row. # TDF2021pic.twitter.com / 2N2oQ8hKJi

- Tour de France ™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2021

• Primoz Roglic (SLO)

Tadej Pogacar will reunite with his compatriot and rival, Primoz Roglic, this time in the same team for the Olympics.

Great disappointed with the Tour de France this year, where he retired before the 9th stage a few days after a serious fall, Primoz Roglic hopes to recover this summer, and that means a performance in Japan.

The second of the Tour last year can seek victory in the race and in the time trial.

Golf

• Jon Rahm (ESP)

Golf made its comeback in the world of Olympism in 2016. If the discipline is not the most anticipated of the Games, some stars will still compete for it like the Spaniard Jon Rahm, number a world since July 19 which will be one of the headliners of the Iberian delegation in Tokyo.

Winner of his first Major at the US Open last June, the 26-year-old golfer is the favorite to succeed Briton Justin Rose, gold medalist in Rio in 2016. He comes out of a last successful edition. of The Open, the British Major, which took him to world number one for the first time in his career.

• Rory McIlroy (IRL)

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy has lost some of his splendor since resuming the golf circuit after the Covid-19 pandemic, but the three-time Major winner hopes to rectify the situation during his first Olympics.

At 32, the European golf star is embarking on a new challenge where he will represent Ireland.

A competition that does not seem to thrill him a few days after another disappointing tournament at the British Open and a small 46th place in the final standings.

But the golfer can use his strokes of genius to get himself on the podium of the Games.

Soccer

• Megan Rapinoe (USA)

International women's football star Megan Rapinoe will play her third Olympic Games at 36, and possibly her last.

Double world champion (2015, 2019) and Olympic champion in 2012, one of the top scorers of the American selection was also noted for her activism, especially under the mandate of Donald Trump.

A figure in sport across the Atlantic, Megan Rapinoe has the experience and the qualities to lead her team to final victory.

The striker was even elected Ballon d'Or in 2019, after the World Cup in France.

American Megan Rapinoe won her second world title in France in 2019.


Credits: Jean-Philippe KSIAZEK / AFP

• Daniel Alves (BRE)

A figure known to Paris Saint-Germain supporters.

Brazilian defender Dani Alves, 38, is among three players over 23 years old selected for the Olympic selection of Brazil.

The right-back will also bring all his experience to help his team win a second consecutive Olympic gold medal, after the home success in Rio in 2016. Following his adventure at PSG from 2017 to 2019, Dani Alves returned to his country and Sao Paulo FC to continue his career.

He won the South American Cup in 2021, the equivalent of the Europa League.

Artistic Gymnastics

• Simone Biles (USA)

24-year-old American Simone Biles is already considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time.

The Texan had won four gold medals in Rio in 2016. Three years later, she became the most medalist gymnast in history in the world championship - men and women alike - with 25 awards, including 19 in gold. .

In the event of a new raid in Tokyo - six at most - Simone Biles could beat the record for 9 Olympic coronations in gymnastics, held by the Soviet Larissa Latynina in the years 1950-60.

Handball

• Mikkel Hansen (DAN)

The Danish player of Paris Saint-Germain is the great asset of his selection for the Olympic handball tournament, which he won in 2016. Left-back Mikkel Hansen was three times voted best world handball player of the year ( 2011, 2015, 2018).

He has scored nearly 2,000 goals with PSG since his arrival in 2012 and won his seventh French league title there in 2020. In selection, Mikkel Hansen also weighs in the game and thanks to his performances, Denmark has retained, in 2021, his world title acquired in 2019. At 33 years old, the Danish giant will try to keep his Olympic title.

The Danish Mikkel Hansen won his seventh French league title with PSG in 2020.


Credits: Ina Fassbender / AFP

Swimming

• Caeleb Dressel (USA)

He is undoubtedly the succession of his compatriot Michael Phelps, the most successful in the history of the Games with 28 medals including 23 gold. 24-year-old Floridian Caeleb Dressel is in Tokyo for his second Olympic meeting, five years after winning relay gold in the 4x100-meter freestyle and the 4x100-meter medley. In his constant progression, the swimmer picked up eight medals, including six gold, at the 2019 Worlds. The Tokyo finals will be played in the morning, which is no obstacle for Caeleb Dressel. He can aim for a good harvest in the queen race, the 100-meter freestyle, then the 50-meter freestyle, the 100-meter butterfly, the 400-meter medley and the relays.

Caeleb the water cutter!

‍♂️


Double Olympic gold medalist, Caeleb Dressel, making it look easy at Rio 2016!

# StrongerTogetherpic.twitter.com / jL6f7ApF3I

- Olympics (@Olympics) July 16, 2021

• Katy Ledecky (USA)

Another American swimming star has a good chance of performing in Tokyo.

Katy Ledecky, 24 years old and already five times Olympic champion, will line up in the individual 200, 400, 800 and 1,500 meters freestyle with the aim of bringing back as many medals as possible.

An ambition to match her talent: the native of Washington DC has 15 world championship victories and won the 800 meters at the Gwangju Worlds in 2019. She still holds three world records on the 400, the 800 and the 1,500-meter freestyle.

• Federica Pellegrini (ITA)

Italian veteran Federica Pellegrini, 32, may be playing her last Olympics this summer.

Gold medalist in Beijing 2008 in the 200-meter freestyle, the transalpine swimmer can become the first woman in history to compete in the Olympic final over this distance for the fifth time in a row.

A feat that will however be difficult to fetch, as the Italian has not distinguished herself in the long course in recent years.

Tennis

• Novak Djokovic (SER)

The world number one Novak Djokovic is unstoppable at the moment and seems promised to the "Golden Slam", unprecedented in the history of men's tennis, which consists of winning all the Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympics.

Recently winner of Wimbledon, the Serbian had yet expressed doubts in the wake of his participation in the Olympics, but the "Djoker" will be present in Tokyo, two weeks after his victory on the London turf.

He will try to win one of the only major titles still missing from his list, after having gleaned his only Olympic medal, bronze, in 2008 in Beijing.

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• Naomi Osaka (JAP)

She is "impatient" to perform at home and eagerly awaited by Japanese fans.

Former world number one Naomi Osaka spent several weeks away from the courts after withdrawing from Roland Garros due to press conferences affecting her mental health.

In an interview with

Time

magazine at the

beginning of July, she explained that she wanted to "recharge her batteries and spend time with (her) loved ones".

The winner of four Grand Slam tournaments will play her first Olympic Games, at home but without her supporters because of the camera.

The current world number 2 will have to overcome the enormous pressure on her shoulders to win.

• Andy Murray (GB)

The Briton Andy Murray (34), double Olympic singles champion, will be back for a fourth participation in the Games. The former world number 1 has however chained the injuries and hip operations in recent years, which have dropped him to 119th place in ATP. Author of a comeback on English turf, with a third round at Wimbledon (clearly beaten by Denis Shapovalov, future semi-finalist), Andy Murray was selected in the British team to play the singles tournament, and the doubles alongside Joe Salisbury. He can dream of a third Olympic gold medal.