Even before the Olympics has taken off, sports enthusiasts are debating over the fortunes of Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Neymar... We jog your memory about some other greats as well.
TALITA ANTUNES & LARISSA FRANCA (Beach Volleyball)
Country: Brazil
Larissa Franca is considered to be one of the best beach volleyball
players of all time. She ranks first in FIVB titles with 57 gold medals in her name. At the 2012 London Olympics, she bagged a bronze with Juliana Felisberta and post the 2012 Games she retired, making her comeback in 2014 with a new partner, Talita Antunes. The duo set a record with 61-straight victories and won a gold medal at the 2015 Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals and thus secured their spot in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
SIMONE BILES (Gymnastics – Artistic)
Country: United States
Evidently, Simone Biles is a gymnast who has the potential to do wonders at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She’s the record holder for winning the most gold medals by any female gymnast in the history of the World Championships.
USAIN BOLT (Athletics)
Country: Jamaica
Indubitably the best sprinter across the globe, Bolt is again all set to go for ‘triple triple’ in 2016 Rio Olympic Games exactly as what he did in Beijing 2008 Olympics and London 2012 Olympics. This 11-time World Champion is the first man at the Modern Olympics Games to ever win six gold medals in sprinting.
MO FARAH (Athletics)
Country: Great Britain
He is the first man in history to complete the triple-double. He was a gold medallist in the 5000 and 10,000 metres at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2013 and 2015 World Championships in Athletics. He has also created world records in athletics.
NINO SCHURTER (Mountain Bike – Cross Country)
Country: Switzerland
The four-time world champion has won the gold at the 2015 European Games and bronze medal at the 2008 Games.
ASHTON EATON (Athletics – Decathlon)
Country: US
He’s one of the most prominent names in athletics. The world record holder in both the decathlon and indoor heptathlon events, he is known for winning most of the multi-event competitions.
GENZEBE DIBABA (Athletics)
Country: Ethiopia
In 2015, she was crowned IAAF World Athlete of the Year. Dibaba won the gold medal for 1,500 metres at the World Championships and silver for 5,000 metres. She also holds the world record for 1500 metres, indoor 3,000 and 5000 metres.
MICHAEL JUNG (Equestrian)
Country: Germany
Jung has won two gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics where he made history by becoming the first rider ever to hold the 2012 Olympic, 2010 World and 2011 European championship titles at the same time.
SAORI YOSHIDA (Wrestling)
Country: Japan
Saori Yoshida is the most prominent participant in freestyle wrestling. She has won every Asian Games and every World title since 2002 and every Olympics in her category since 2004.
NEYMAR (Soccer)
Country: Brazil
His football team has won the World Cup five times but they have never won a gold medal at Olympics. Under Neymar’s leadership the team will hope to rewrite history this time.
SERENA WILLIAMS (Tennis)
Country: United States
She has won three Olympic doubles titles in 2000, 2008 and 2012 with her sister Venus. The American tennis player is also ranked no. 1 in women singles tennis.
MICHAEL PHELPS (Swimming)
Country: United States
He is one the most decorated Olympic athletes of all times. He holds the record for winning 18 gold medals over three Olympics Games.