Women athletes are about to have an epic run at the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer. Here's everything you'll want to watch.
15 Summer Olympic Sports—and Athletes—to Watch
It’s finally here: the Olympics 2021 officially kick off in Tokyo on Friday, July 23 and, wow, will they be worth the wait. These Summer Olympics have already been historic for a number of pandemic-related reasons: the postponement, crowd-free competition to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and athletes who have already withdrawn after testing positive. But on a brighter note, the Tokyo Games are already historic for women athletes.
Women won more medals in 2016 and 2018 for Team U.S.A. than male athletes and are on track to take home the most glory in Tokyo too; this year, six major countries—including the U.S., Canada, Australia, Great Britain, China and Russia (whose athletes will be competing for the Russian Olympic Committee as the doping ban against the country is still in place)—have more women athletes competing than men.
But it’s not just about numbers. Women athletes are about to have an epic run at the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer—the women of Team USA Basketball will be going for their seventh consecutive gold medal (some dynasty-level stuff right there), Allyson Felix will be competing in her fifth Olympics (while helping to pay for childcare for other Olympian moms), Katie Ledecky will be gunning for the chance to be the first woman to win the most career gold medals (in any sport), Carissa Moore and Bryce Wettstein will have a shot at becoming the first women to ever win Olympic medals in surfing and skateboarding (both new Olympic sports), Scout Bassett will be get another shot at Paralympic gold, and Simone Biles will be being, well, Simone Biles.
You’re going to want to watch it all. Here are the sports and iconic athletes to keep your eye on at the 2021 Olympics.
1.Gymnastics
Simone Biles. Need we say more?
The G.O.A.T. will be competing at her second Olympics as the greatest gymnast—of any gender—in history. In addition to debuting moves never competed on the Olympic stage, she’s in the running (along with swimmer Katie Ledecky) to become the woman to win the most career gold medals in any sport.
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But it’s not just Biles you’ll want to watch. The 2021 Women’s Gymnastics team is stacked with talent. Also on the squad: Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Grace McCallum, Jade Carey, and MyKayla Skinner. Together, they could sweep the top spot on the podium in every event, making them the first team to ever take home gold in every event in the competition.
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Watch it: The women’s team final will take place on July 27, with individual events running August 1-3.
2. Track and Field
Women are set to dominate the track and field competition this year (even though fan favorite Sha’Carri Richardson won’t be competing).
All eyes will be on Allyson Felix, who will be competing in her fifth Olympic games (and first as a mom). Felix is just one medal away from becoming the most decorated woman in Olympic track and field history. Felix could also be part of a historic 4x400 meter relay team, where the women are looking to bring home their seventh straight gold.
Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce—aka the fastest woman alive—will be running for the chance to become the first woman to win three Olympic golds in the 100m sprint (the only other person to do so is Usain Bolt) and the first sprinter of any gender to win four Olympic medals in the 100m race.
Gwen Berry, who has stood up to backlash for protesting the national anthem, has a shot at becoming the first American woman to medal in the hammer throw.
In the marathon, don’t miss Aliphine Tuliamuk, who will be competing just seven months after giving birth to her daughter.
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Watch it: Events kick off July 29 and run through August 7.
3. Paralympic Track and Field
At the Paralympic games, starting August 24, wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden will be looking to add to her collection of 17 paralympic medals.
Scout Bassett, who has become a notable advocate for disability rights and is one of the most tenacious athletes you’ll ever watch compete, will be competing for her first paralympic gold.
You also won’t want to miss Alia Issa, a paralympic club thrower. Next month, she’ll become the first woman to compete for the Refugee Paralympic team.
Watch it: The Paralympic Games will run from August 24 to September 5.
4. Tennis
The Games haven’t even started yet and tennis has already been in the headlines with many of the sports top-ranked women pulling out. First Serena Williams announced she was opting out of a trip to Tokyo. (She didn’t go into detail, but had previously told reporters, “I would not be able to go function without my 3-year-old around. I think I would be in a depression. We’ve been together every day of her life.”) Then Coco Gauff announced she’d tested positive for COVID-19, Simona Halep withdrew because of an injury, and Venus Williams—the most decorated Olympic tennis player in history—indicated she wouldn’t be playing either.
So who will be on the courts in Tokyo? Naomi Osaka and Ash Barty, who are not only the top players in the sport (ranked number two and number one, respectively), but are both outspoken advocates for mental health. Osaka, who is competing for Japan, will be playing for the first time after withdrawing from recent Open tournaments for mental health reasons.
Watch it: Tennis events will take place from July 23 through August 1.
5. Basketball
Love a sports dynasty? Look no further than the U.S. Women’s basketball team, led by five-time Olympians Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi. Not only will the team be gunning for their seventh consecutive gold, they’re on a 49 game winning streak. This team hasn’t lost since 1992.
Watch it: The women will play July 27 through August 7.
6. Soccer
The women of the USWNT—reigning world champs, equal pay warriors, and all around badasses—just became the surprising underdogs. In their first official Olympic match on July 21 (before the Opening Ceremony), the U.S. lost to long-time rival Sweden (who knocked the USWNT out of the Olympic quarterfinals in 2016).
If Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and co. prevail, they’d become the first team to win an Olympic gold medal immediately after winning the World Cup—a feat that feels (fairly or not) so much bigger than just a soccer game. One thing is for sure, this is going to be one hell of a nail biter.
Elsewhere in soccer, keep your eyes on Brazilian soccer legend Formiga, who will be competing in her seventh Olympics this month.
Watch it: The USWNT kicks off on July 21 with the final taking place August 5.
7. Swimming
Katie Ledecky is a world record-breaking machine, having smashed the 1500m world record six times. This year, the event will be open to women for the first time in Olympic history and Ledecky is favored to bring home gold. In Tokyo, she could become the first U.S. woman, in any sport, to bring home five gold medals.
Watch it: Dive in July 24 through August 5.
8. Paralympic Cycling
Oksana Masters is practically super human—she’s won Paralympic medals in three sports: rowing, biathlon, and cross-country skiing. No biggie. In Tokyo, she’ll be looking to bring home a medal in yet another sport—paralympic cycling—before she gets right back to training for the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing.
Watch it: The Paralympic Games will run from August 24 to September 5.
9. Surfing
Surfing is one of the four sports making its highly anticipated Olympic debut this year. The action will be led by Carissa Moore—reigning four-time world champion.
Some very exciting context to keep in mind while watching the women shred: In 2019, surfing became one of the only sports to achieve pay equity.
Watch it: The surf competition is subject to change based on the waves, but the action is slated for July 24-28.
10. Skateboarding
Skateboarding will also be making its Olympic debut this year. The field is stacked with impossibly cool women who will be bringing some serious chill and skill to the Games in both street and park events. Keep your eyes peeled for Bryce Wettstein and Brighton Zeuner, 16-year-old childhood best friends from California.
Watch it: The action will go down July 25 and August 3.
11. Weightlifting
There are few things more genuinely badass than watching women lift hundreds of pounds over their heads like “Oh what’s that? You say women aren’t strong?” This year, Laurel Hubbard will become the first openly trans person to compete (in any sport) in Olympic history.
Watch it: See the women lift July 23 through August 2.
12. Wrestling
In a similar show of don’t-underestimate-her dominance, Helen Maroulis, reining Olympic champ, will be competing in her second Olympics for the chance to become the first U.S. wrestler to bring home back to back gold medals.
Watch it: July 31 through August 2.
13. Diving
Diving is always an iconic sport to watch. The skill! The grace! The heights! This year, keep your eyes on Shi Tingmao, a Chinese diver who has won every single world championship and Olympic title since 2015.
Watch it: See the competition July 25 through August 5.
14. Paralympic Swimming
Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long is a legend. She made her Paralympic debut at age 12, and has since earned 23 medals—13 of which are gold—which makes her the second most decorated Paralympian in history. (No wonder she was Michael’s Phelps' former training partner.)
The coronavirus restrictions at this year’s Games have proved particularly challenging for para athletes. Becca Meyers, also a Paralympic swimming powerhouse, announced she was forced to withdraw from the competition after being denied the right to bring a care assistant (her mom) to help her compete as a deaf blind athlete.
Watch it: The Paralympic Games will run from August 24 to September 5.
15. Softball
Softball is returning to the Olympics after 13 years. The game was last played in 2008, when Team U.S.A. brought home gold. Two of those women, Cat Osterman and Monica Abbott, are returning this year with the 2021 squad to defend their title.
Watch it: Games run from July 20 to July 27.
See all of Glamour's Olympics 2021 coverage here.
This story originally appeared on: Glamour - Author:Condé Nast
