Due to injury, suspension, non-qualification or personal choice, some stars in the sports world will not compete in the Tokyo Olympics (July 23-August 8).
Here are some big names that sports fans will miss.
Their absence will be particularly noticeable in Tokyo this summer.
Some stars of the sports world will not take part in the Tokyo Olympics (July 23-August 8).
These athletes will therefore not defend their chances of winning a medal for their country, for various reasons.
Injury, suspension, loss of form or personal choice, they are some to be missed in the call of the Games.
On the French side, Kylian Mbappé, Christophe Lemaître and Mahiedine Mekhissi are the big absent from the next Olympics.
Europe 1 offers you a non-exhaustive list of those athletes who will not go to the Tokyo Olympics.
Athletics
• Mo Farah (GB)
The Briton Mo Farah, double Olympic champion consecutively over 5,000 and 10,000 meters, will not be able to defend his titles in Tokyo.
The 38-year-old runner has not achieved the Olympic minimums and no longer seems able to weigh at the highest level.
A disappointment for the Briton, who fails to compete in his fourth Summer Olympics.
• Christophe Lemaître (FRA)
The French public will be sad not to see one of its heroes from Rio, Christophe Lemaître.
The bronze medalist over 200 meters is struggling to regain the highest level since his Brazilian podium.
He once again had a very complicated season (10'48 "over 100 meters, 20'69" over 200 meters) and was not even selected for the 4x100 meter relay.
Short of form due in particular to "bad reactions to (two injections of) the vaccine against Covid-19", according to his entourage, the French sprinter had to forfeit the French Championships at the end of June in Angers.
• Mahiedine Mekhissi (FRA)
The absence of Mahiedine Mekhissi is not a surprise.
The three-time Olympic medalist in the 3,000-meter steeplechase did not get the qualifying time for the Games in Castellon (Spain), his first race for three without in this category.
The 36-year-old will not walk away with a new Olympic award, having gleaned silver in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012, as well as bronze in Rio in 2016.
• Christian Coleman (USA)
Perhaps not yet known in France, American sprinter Christian Coleman, 25, was one of America's great hopes in athletics.
The 100-meter world champion in Doha in 2019, however, received an 18-month suspension in June 2020 for failing to meet his anti-doping whereabouts obligations on three occasions.
The runner will not be able to achieve the World-Olympic Games double this summer.
• Sha'Carri Richardson (USA)
Another hope of American athletics will not be able to present itself in Tokyo.
Sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson tested positive for marijuana during the Olympic trials at the end of June, and was therefore ruled out by her federation.
With a time of 10'72 "in April, the 21-year-old athlete could have taken part in the 100 meters and the 4x100 meter relay to restore the credibility of the American women's sprint.
Basketball
• LeBron James (USA)
Staring in
Space Jam: New Era
, American basketball legend LeBron James will not be in Tokyo.
The Los Angeles Lakers star missed part of the season with an injury.
At 36, the NBA player will therefore not set out to conquer a third Olympic title, after 2008 and 2012.
• Stephen Curry (USA)
Another NBA star not to attend the Tokyo Olympics, Stephen Curry.
One of the best three-pointers in basketball history could have taken advantage of his Golden State Warriors' absence from the play-offs to strengthen "Team USA".
But at 33, the double world champion with the United States preferred to rest in the offseason after a season lengthened by the Covid.
Cycling
• Julian Alaphilippe (FRA)
A chance for a medal that flies to France.
The darling of the French public Julian Alaphilippe has decided not to take part in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, despite a road test cut out for his qualities as a climber.
The world champion announced his decision in May to enjoy his family after the Tour de France (his first child was born in June) and focus on his end-of-season goals.
• Romain Bardet (FRA)
Already absent from the Grande Boucle, Romain Bardet will also be absent for the Olympics to the chagrin of the French rider.
His DSM team is aiming for a good performance in the Tour of Spain next August and playing the Olympics would have been too heavy physically for the tricolor climber.
He should nevertheless be the leader of his team on the Vuelta.
Golf
• Victor Perez (FRA)
Due to a "very condensed" international calendar, the French golf leader, Victor Perez, has decided not to match the Olympic event in Tokyo.
The 28-year-old Tarbais got his 2021 season off to a good start, with a fourth place in the match-play world championship last March.
But after the latest disappointing results, the French golfer preferred to decline the Olympic invitation to focus on his end of the season, and in particular the September Ryder Cup that he could potentially play.
pic.twitter.com/FXxoHr13q8
- Victor Perez (@ v_perez2) June 24, 2021
• Dustin Johnson (USA)
Now second in the world, the American Dustin Johnson, winner of two career Major titles, has preferred to prioritize golf tournaments on the North American circuit this summer.
He will therefore not compete in the Olympic event in Tokyo, five years after missing the one in Rio because of concerns about the presence of the Zika virus in Brazil.
Soccer
• Kylian Mbappé (FRA)
Long hoped for by French supporters, the presence of Kylian Mbappé, 22 years old and therefore selectable among the under 23 years, will ultimately not take place in the French Olympic team.
Blame it on a tight schedule with the Euro despite the rapid elimination of the Blues, and the refusal of PSG to release its players for the Olympics.
The young French football star should nevertheless be part of the Paris 2024 Games, appearing among the three "jokers" over 23 years old.
• Neymar (BRE)
PSG star Neymar has also been selected by his club not to compete in the Tokyo Olympics with Brazil.
The football star will therefore not defend his gold medal acquired at home in Rio in 2016, which was his best victory for the Seleção.
This summer, the striker also played in the Copa America with Brazil who finally lost in the final against Argentina on July 11 (1-0 loss).
• Lionel Messi (ARG)
Winner of the Copa America this summer, the Argentine genius Lionel Messi will not play the Olympics either.
In the same way as his Brazilian rival, the timing is tight for the six-time Golden Ball, already winner of the Games with Argentina in Beijing in 2008. His club FC Barcelona also opposed the return of his star from 34 years old in Olympic competition.
Swimming
• Sun Yang (CHI)
Chinese swimmer Sun Yang, triple Olympic champion in his career (400 meters and 1,500 meters freestyle in 2012, 200 meters freestyle in 2016), was suspended by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for having destroyed with a hammer a vial of his blood carried by inspectors in 2018. He will not be able to return until before the Paris Games, but he will be 32 years old.
• Ryan Lochte (USA)
One of America's swimming stars Ryan Lochte failed to qualify in the 200-meter medley event.
The years are felt on the side of the 36-year-old swimmer who has already won 12 Olympic medals in his career, including six titles, in four Olympics (from 2004 to 2016).
Tennis
• Roger Federer (SUI)
Switzerland's Roger Federer's scoreless scoring in Tokyo most likely indicates that the Maestro will never win Olympic gold in singles in his career.
An award that he had nevertheless won in doubles, alongside his compatriot Stan Wawrinka in Beijing in 2008. Eliminated in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in early July, the almost 40-year-old Swiss next August explained that he had hurt himself. knee during his grass season, which forced him to withdraw for Tokyo.
• Rafael Nadal (ESP)
Switzerland's rival, Spaniard Rafael Nadal, will not compete in the Tokyo Olympics either.
At 35, the figurehead of Iberian tennis has chosen to "listen to his body" and therefore forfeit the Tokyo meeting.
The winner of 13 editions of Roland Garros had already won the Olympic gold medal in singles, in Beijing in 2008. The Spaniard had not lined up for the Wimbledon tournament this summer either.
Hi all, I have decided not to participate at this year's Championships at Wimbledon and the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
It's never an easy decision to take but after listening to my body and discuss it with my team I understand that it is the right decision
- Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 17, 2021
• Serena Williams (USA)
The American tennis legend Serena Williams, 39, has decided not to join the Olympics this summer because of an extra-sporting reason.
While the organizers do not want to welcome any close to athletes due to health restrictions, Serena Williams explained that she did not want to be separated from her 4-year-old daughter.
The 16th player in the world will not be aiming for a fifth Olympic title after winning the singles in London in 2012 and three gold in doubles (2004, 2008 and 2012).
• Dominic Thiem (AUT)
The Austrian Dominic Thiem, 6th in the world, has accumulated poor performances since his title at the US Open 2020 and preferred not to play the Tokyo Olympics this summer. Very pale at Roland Garros this year when he was taken out entry, then forfeited at Wimbledon due to a wrist injury, the Austrian is waiting for better days to practice his best tennis. Thiem hopes to be able to defend his Grand Slam title in New York at the end of August.