[tps_header]The 2016 Olympics are in full swing. There are several African American athletes representing the red, white and blue—some names you might already know and some names you’ll likely be hearing for the first time. But here is our list of athletes to watch:[/tps_header]
Simone Biles
Age: 19
Event: Women’s Gymnastic
About: Biles is widely considered the best gymnast in the entire competition—and even in the history of the sport. She will compete for the best individual all-around gymnast and provide TEAM USA with an edge in the best team all-around competition with her dominance on the balance beam, floor exercise and vault.
UPDATE: The American Women’s Gymnastics Team took home Gold for the team competition. And Biles won Gold in the women’s individual all-around competition.
Gabby Douglas
Age: 20
Event: Women’s Gymnastic
About: Douglas walked away with the gold for best individual all-around gymnast in the 2012 Olympics. Though she had the third-highest score among all competing gymnasts this year, she won’t be able to defend her title for the Rio Games (due to a two athletes per country rule). Yet, she still has opportunities to take home Golds. You’ll still be able to catch Douglas on the uneven bars, where she could medal and push her team to the Gold.
UPDATE: The American Women’s Gymnastics Team took home gold for the team competition.
Daryl Homer
Age: 26
Event: Men’s Sabre Fencing
About: Homer took home silver in the Rio Olympics. And in doing so, he set an American record by becoming the first American male in more than 100 years to win a silver medal in the individual sabre competition.
Simone Manuel
Age: 20
Event: Women’s Swimming
About: She’s already claimed a silver medal as a member of the Women’s 4×100 freestyle relay team. But she’ll also compete in the 100- and 50-meter freestyle competitions.
UPDATE: She just claimed gold in the 100-meter freestyle. This makes her the first African American to win an individual medal in swimming.
Lia Neal
#Brooklyn native @LiaNeal describes why she enjoys swimming as a team sport #SwimUnited https://t.co/DbzaDjN17A pic.twitter.com/bQ6lJHqlZs
— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) July 31, 2016
Age: 21
Event: Women’s Swimming
About: She’s a bronze medalist, helping her team take third place in the 2012 Olympics 4×400-meter freestyle relay. And this year, she helped her team take home silver in the same relay.
Crystal Dunn
Age: 24
Event: Women’s Soccer
About: Dunn just missed the cut for last year’s World Cup winning team. Now the outside midfielder is expected to bring her dynamic scoring power to this Olympic team, placing them in as the team to beat for gold.
Mallory Pugh
Age: 18
Event: Women’s Soccer
About: Fresh out of high school, Pugh is the second youngest player to play for the US Women’s Soccer Team. There’s a big future ahead of the young star, so her first appearance in the Olympics may be one of many.
Women’s & Men’s Basketball
Unlimited Together. #UNITE ??? pic.twitter.com/5DGM7hv0jU
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 6, 2016
About: Of course, the Americans are heavy favorites in the basketball competitions. The women’s team, which consists of all-stars, such as Brittney Griner, Maya Moore and Angel Mccoughtry, are expected to grab their six-straight gold with little interference. And the men’s team, which is led by Carmelo Anthony, Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving, are expected to come up big again this year.
Serena Williams
Age: 34
Event: Women’s Tennis
About: Though she and her sister are already out of the running for medaling in the Doubles Tennis tournament, Serena is still in the running to claim gold for the Singles competition.
UPDATE: Serena lost in third round of the competition.
Madison Keys
Age: 21
Event: Women’s Tennis
About: She has already advanced far into the Olympic matches. She is emerging as a forced to be reckoned with and ranks 9th internationally.
Meb Keflezighi
Age: 41
Event: Marathon
About: He is the oldest marathoner to compete in the Olympics for the U.S. He is already a decorated Olympian, winning the silver medal for the marathon in the 2004 games.
Ibtihaj Muhammad
Age: 30
Event: Women’s Sabre Fencing
About: Muhammad became the first American athlete to compete in a hijab during this Olympics. Though she lost her individual match, she will still take part in the team competition.
Women’s Volleyball
Event: Women’s Volleyball
About: The USA Women’s Volleyball team have faced a few tight matches, but they are still in the medal competition. And the team has plenty of #blackgirlmagic from team members, such as Alisha Glass, Foluke Akinradewo and Rachael Adams.
Check more athletes to watch over at NBC BLCK
[tps_footer]BMWK, What’s your favorite Olympic sport to watch and who are you most excited to see compete?[/tps_footer]