The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro are about to start. Here’s a short list of athletes to keep an eye on during the games.
For a list of American athletes to watch, visit here.
Mo Farah, Great Britain
Mo Farah of Great Britain competes in the Muller Anniversary Games t the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park stadium in London on July 23. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)Going for the London–Rio double in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races.
Usain Bolt, Jamaica
Usain Bolt creates his “Lightening Bolt” pose as he celebrates winning the men’s 200m at the IAAF Diamond League Anniversary Games at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park stadium in London on July 22. (BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)Will defend his 100, 200, and 4×100 relay golds from Beijing and London. Will turn 30 on Aug. 21.
David Rudisha, Kenya
David Rudisha runs in the Men’s 800 Meter during the IAAF World Challenge at Olympic Park in Melbourne, Australia, on March 25. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)Defending his 800-meter London gold. Holds six of the eight fastest times ever run in the event.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Jamaica
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce sprints to the finish line to win gold in the Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay final at the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)Gunning for three straight 100-meter Olympic golds, a feat no other woman has accomplished.
Genzebe Dibaba, Ethiopia
Genzebe Dibaba celebrates after winning gold in the Women’s 1500 meter final at the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015. (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images for IAAF)The 2015 world record-holder in the 1,500 is odds-on favorite. In June, her coach was arrested in a doping raid.
Cate and Bronte Campbell, Australia
Sisters Cate Campbell (L) and Bronte Campbell in Brisbane, Australia, on Feb. 26. (Chris Hyde/Getty Images)The sisters will compete in the 50 and 100 freestyle events and probably some relays. Cate is faster right now, but either way, there’s bound to be a Campbell on the podium more than once.
Qiu Bo, China
Bo Qiu competes in the 16th FINA World Championships at the Aquatics Palace in Kazan, Russia, on Aug. 2, 2015. ( Clive Rose/Getty Images)The Chinese divers are expected to dominate the boards this year, so take your pick of who to watch. The closest competition may come in the 10-meter individual event where American David Boudia pipped Qiu in London.
Jessica Ennis-Hill, Great Britain
Jessica Ennis-Hill competes at the IAAF Diamond League Anniversary Games in London on July 22. (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)Won gold at last year’s heptathlon world championships. Could win back-to-back Olympic titles. Looks to be headed for a good battle with Canada’s Brianne Theisen-Eaton.
Kohei Uchimura, Japan
Kohei Uchimura performs in the Men’s Horizontal bar Final at the 2015 World Gymnastics Championship in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 1, 2015. (Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images)Considered the best male gymnast of all time. Has one gold and four silver Olympic medals and 19 world championship medals.
Oksana Chusovitina, Uzbekistan
Oksana Chusovitina trains on the balance beam in Rio de Janeiro, on Aug. 4. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)Oldest female Olympic gymnast ever at 41 and six-time Olympian. Has a team gold and an individual silver medal.
Neymar, Brazil
Brazil player Neymar at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia on Aug. 4. (EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images)After a silver in London, Neymar and the Brazilian men’s soccer team are still looking for a first Olympic gold medal.
Refugee team
Athletes of the Refugee Olympic Team in Rio de Janeiro on July 30.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) selected 10 refugee athletes to set a refugee’s team for the first time, to bring about hope to people displaced by conflicts or war in the world. (YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images)
A 10-person team—from Syria, South Sudan, Congo, and Ethiopia—will compete under the Olympic flag.
For the full schedule, visit nbcolympics.com/full-schedule
