The stars poised to define the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. From defending champions to rising challengers, these are the athletes every Olympic fan should know.
🇫🇷 Léon Marchand — Swimming, France
Paris 2024 Medals: 🥇🥇🥇🥇 (4 Gold)
The most dominant Olympic swimmer since Michael Phelps, Léon Marchand shocked the world at Paris 2024 by winning four individual gold medals across butterfly, breaststroke, and individual medley events. The Toulouse native, trained under Phelps’ coach Bob Bowman, holds world records in the 200m and 400m IM. At LA 2028, he may attempt to win five or six individual golds. If healthy, he is the single greatest medal certainty of the 2028 Games.
Events to watch: 200m Butterfly, 200m Breaststroke, 200m IM, 400m IM
🇯🇲 Julien Alfred — Sprinting, St. Lucia
Paris 2024 Medals: 🥇 (100m Gold)
The most surprising gold medallist of Paris 2024, Julien Alfred became the first Olympic gold medallist from St. Lucia when she stormed to victory in the women’s 100m final in 10.72 seconds. Trained in the USA at Texas, the 23-year-old sprinter ran under the radar for years before her Paris breakthrough. At LA 2028 she’ll be 27 — the prime age for a sprinter — and will be a frontrunner for the sprint double (100m and 200m).
Events to watch: 100m, 200m
🇳🇴 Jakob Ingebrigtsen — Distance Running, Norway
Paris 2024 Medals: 🥇🥈
The Norwegian middle-distance phenom won the 1500m gold at Tokyo 2020 and added more medals at Paris 2024. Ingebrigtsen is the reigning 1500m world record holder and has dominated European athletics for half a decade. Tactically intelligent and physically exceptional, he is the clear favourite for the 1500m at LA 2028 — and could attempt the 1500m/5000m double.
Events to watch: 1500m, 5000m
🇺🇸 Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone — 400m Hurdles, USA
Paris 2024 Medals: 🥇🥇
Possibly the most dominant track athlete alive, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has broken the 400m hurdles world record four times. Her Paris 2024 performance — 50.37 seconds — left the rest of the field racing for silver. She also anchored the USA’s 4×400m mixed relay team to gold. At LA 2028, competing on home soil in front of American crowds, McLaughlin-Levrone will be the face of track and field.
Events to watch: 400m Hurdles, 4×400m Relay
🇺🇸 Simone Biles — Gymnastics, USA
Paris 2024 Medals: 🥇🥇🥇🥈 (3 Gold, 1 Silver)
The greatest gymnast of all time made the most extraordinary comeback at Paris 2024, winning three gold medals just three years after her mental health withdrawal from Tokyo 2020. Biles has 11 Olympic medals in total and has had multiple gymnastics skills named after her. At LA 2028 she will be 31 — age is the only question mark. If she competes, she will be the most watched athlete in gymnastics history competing on home soil.
Events to watch: All-Around, Floor Exercise, Vault
🇨🇳 Zheng Qinwen — Tennis, China
Paris 2024 Medals: 🥇 (Women’s Singles Gold)
China’s tennis golden girl made history at Paris 2024, becoming the first Chinese player ever to win an Olympic singles gold medal. The 22-year-old Wuhan native defeated world No. 1 Iga Swiatek en route to the final, then overcame Croatia’s Donna Vekic in a thrilling match. World top-10 and improving, Zheng is the favourite to defend her title at LA 2028.
Events to watch: Women’s Singles Tennis