Rooting for everyone Black in the Paris Olympics? 24 Black athletes to watch on Team USA
The Summer Olympics in Paris have finally arrived, with opening ceremonies kicking off today, July 26.
Planning on rooting for everyone Black this Olympics? From tennis champion Coco Gauff bearing the flag for Team USA alongside LeBron James to notable hosts like Snoop Dogg to highly anticipated athletes like Simone Biles and Sha’Carri Richardson, this year, there are plenty of Black athletes and talent alike to watch for on the home team.
In fact, Team USA’s Black members are nearly in the triple digits for the Paris Olympics, and while we couldn’t highlight all of them, we have highlighted 24 to watch for this year across sports. From a fencer to a female wrestler to an NBA player’s Olympic debut and a runner poised to break a huge record, we’ve gathered an array of exciting athletes. This list includes starred veterans, phenomenal first-timers, and those in sports where Black athletes have been historically underrepresented. But just to be clear, while we’re spotlighting Team USA, this list in no way represents our endorsement of some over others because theGrio will be rooting for everyone Black! (We see you, Team Jamaica!)
For a complete list of the Team USA roster, head to the team’s official website.
1. Coco Gauff – Tennis
The 20-year-old tennis pro is already a Grand Slam winner, having reached the No. 1 ranking in her sport in 2022 (currently No. 3), and remains the youngest singles titleholder on the WTA Tour since 2004. After she bears the flag for Team USA alongside LeBron James, she’ll be making her Olympic debut in the mixed doubles, women’s doubles, and women’s singles competitions.
Keep up with her on Instagram and TikTok!
Related: Coco Gauff says her Grand Slam outfits are planned years in advance
2. Chris Eubanks – Tennis
Hailing from Atlanta, Chris Eubanks, 28, currently ranks in the Top 50 for his sport, having obtained Top 100 status after reaching QF in Miami in 2023 and ranked 29 in 2023. He will be making his Olympic debut playing men’s singles.
You can find Chris on Instagram!
Related: Snoop Dogg will carry Olympic torch ahead of Paris opening ceremony
3. Gianluca Busio – Soccer
While Gianluca Busio, 22, has certainly made a name for himself playing soccer for the U.S. national team, the Greensboro, North Carolina, native (with dual Italian citizenship) will make his Olympic debut this year in Paris.
Keep up with him on Instagram!
Related: Paris Olympic competition nears total gender parity. Take a look at the athlete gender breakdown
4. Crystal Dunn – Soccer
Tennis pro Crystal Dunn, 32, already holds one bronze medal and is returning for her third Olympics this year. Before she made her debut at the Games in 2016, Dunn became the youngest MVP in NWSL history at age 23 in 2015.
Follow her journey in Paris on Instagram!
Related: LeBron James will be Team USA’s male flag bearer at the 2024 Olympic Games
5. Ashleigh Johnson – Water Polo
Ashleigh Johnson, 29, has been holding it down as a goalkeeper and the only Black member of Team USA’s water polo team since her Olympic debut in 2016. Johnson is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world for her sport. With two gold medals under her belt already, she is returning for her third Olympics this year in Paris — with support from Flavor Flav!
Keep up with Ashleigh on Instagram!
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6. Lauren Scruggs – Fencing
Another rising star in their sport making a debut this year is Harvard student Lauren Scruggs. The fencer, 21, hails from New York’s Queens borough and has traveled around the world competing with the blade.
Follow Lauren Scruggs on Instagram!
Related: Vanessa and Kobe Bryant’s 7-year-old daughter trains with former WNBA star Candace Parker
7. Kennedy Blades – Wrestling
At just 17 years old, Kennedy Blades managed to be a runner-up for the Olympic wrestling team during the 2020 Olympic trials. Now, at 20, with multiple world championship matches under her belt, the Chicago native will join Team USA’s wrestling team in Paris.
Find Kennedy Blades on Instagram!
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8. CJ Nickolas – Taekwondo
Originally from Brentwood, California, CJ Nickolas is a heart disease survivor who grew up doing Taekwondo alongside his family. He began competing at the age of 6 and will make his Olympic debut in Paris at 23. His mother told NBC News that despite her son’s intensity during fights, he is the type of competitor who immediately runs and gets his opponent ice after a match.
Keep up with CJ Nickolas and his kindness on Instagram!
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9. Faith Dillon – Taekwondo
Hailing from Las Vegas, Faith Dillon will make her Olympic debut in Paris. The 22-year-old joins Team USA after placing 17th in the World Championship for her weight class. She will be competing in the Featherweight 49-57kg women’s weight class in Paris.
Follow Faith on Instagram!
10. Nyjah Huston – Skateboarding
For a certain set, Nyjah Huston needs no introduction, but for the less aware, the pro skateboarding champ will be making his Olympic debut in Paris in the men’s street category. While his debut is taking place at the age of 29, the Davis, California, native was skating with his first sponsor by the age of 7. Huston, whose father is part Black, also maintained a strict vegan diet as a child and credits it with never having broken a bone before — which is nearly unheard of in his sport! And, of course, he has Olympic merch up for grabs.
You can follow Nyjah Huston in Paris on Instagram!
11. Kevon Williams – Rugby
Kevon Williams, 33, is a family man from Houston, Texas, and a member of the US National Rugby team. He will be returning for his second Olympic run in Paris; he made his debut during the 2020 Olympics.
Keep up with Kevon Williams on Instagram!
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12. Frederick Richard – Gymnastics
After becoming the youngest American male gymnast to earn an individual medal at a world championship in 2023, Frederick Richard will compete in his first Olympics in Paris. Richard, 20, will make his debut in both individual and team events.
Find Frederick Richard on Instagram and TikTok!
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13. Jordan Chiles – Gymnastics
During her first-ever Olympics in Toyko in 2021, Jordan Chiles stepped up when her teammate Simone Biles had to step down due to a case of the twisties – a dangerous neurological nervous condition where the brain and body stop cooperating – and took on another competition category at the last minute. She more than proved herself as she helped her team take home a silver medal. Chiles will be returning to Paris with her team to continue being “that girl,” as her fans affectionately call her.
Join Jordan’s journey on Instagram and TikTok!
Related: Jordan Chiles reflects on how she became ‘that girl’
14. Simone Biles – Gymnastics
LeBron James won’t be the only “GOAT” turning up in Paris for the Olympics this year. Simone Biles, widely considered the GOAT of gymnastics, will be returning for her third go at the Olympics. After making the difficult decision to step down during the Tokyo Olympics, Biles has rebounded spectacularly, something she thanks her teammates for. You will be able to keep up with Biles’ full journey to Paris during her docuseries on Netflix, with new episodes arriving in August.
For real-time updates of the champion follow her Instagram and TikTok!
15. Quincy Wilson – Track & Field, and 16. Hezly Rivera – Gymnastics
There aren’t only adults on Team USA this year; 16-year-olds Hezly Rivera and Quincy Wilson will be the youngest Olympians on Team USA. Wilson hails from Potomac, Maryland, and will be competing in track and field, while Rivera is a native of New Jersey and on the gymnastics team.
Related: Gabby Douglas forced to end journey to the 2024 Olympics
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17. Tara Davis-Woodhall – Track & Field
Track and field remains one of the Blackest sports at the Olympics, with nearly 50 Black competitors on Team USA alone. A standout veteran returning this year in Paris is Agoura Hills, California, native Tara Davis-Woodhall, 25, who will compete in the women’s long jump.
You can keep with her on Instagram and TikTok!
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18. Sha’Carri Richardson – Track & Field
One of this year’s most anticipated competitors, Sha’Carri Richardson, 24, will be making her Olympic debut after a slight snag saw her disqualified from the Tokyo Olympics. Despite that hurdle, the sprinter and Dallas native has managed to only become better at her sport. She and her signature style will hit the track for the 100-meter race.
Follow her journey on Instagram!
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19. Noah Lyles – Track & Field
Another highly anticipated competitor is Alexandria, Virginia, native Noah Lyles. The 27-year-old currently holds the highest ranking in the world for the men’s 100-meter and 200-meter events. After winning bronze during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he will run the 200-meter in Paris, and after coming close during a meet in Atlanta in the spring, he’s approaching Usain Bolt’s record.
Keep up with his journey on Instagram!
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20. Shaine Casas – Swimming
McAllen, Texas, native Shaine Casas will make his Olympic debut in Paris, but he’s already made quite the splash in his sport. The 24-year-old is an 11-time medalist at the world championship level. He will be racing in the 200-meter individual medley.
While he’s yet to post any updates about Paris, you can follow him on Instagram!
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21. Simone Manuel – Swimming
Veteran five-time medalist Simone Manuel (two gold, two silver, and one bronze) will return to the Olympics for a third time this summer in Paris. The 27-year-old native of Sugar Land, Texas, is expected to race in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay and the women’s 50m freestyle.
Follow her journey on Instagram!
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22. Brittney Griner – Basketball
WNBA star Brittney Griner will be playing in her third Olympics as she joins Team USA’s basketball for another romp. With two gold medals under her belt already, one for each of the most recent Games, she’s poised to seize another.
Follow her journey on Instagram!
Related: Brittney Griner admits it ‘sucks’ to head to the Olympics after welcoming her son
23. Joel Embiid – Basketball
NBA star Joel Embiid, recently anointed league MVP, will make his Olympic debut in Paris along with fan favorite Steph Curry. The native of Yaoundé, Cameroon, has played seven seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers and is the first foreign player to be named a scoring champion.
Follow him on Instagram for more!
Related: Snoop Dogg will carry Olympic torch ahead of Paris opening ceremony
24. Steph Curry – Basketball
Let’s hope the Olympic Village has top-quality popcorn because another NBA sensation finally making his Olympic debut is expert popcorn connoisseur and Warriors point guard Steph Curry. The basketball phenom is joining Team USA as they go for their fifth consecutive gold.
Related: Noah Lyles warms up for Olympics, sets personal best to win 100 in London
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