Whether swimming, running, climbing, or jumping, Olympic athletes dedicate their lives to sports at the highest level. These athletes are a source of inspiration and are already winners in our hearts. As we approach the 2024 Olympic Games, these incredible athletes nominated by ELLE International editions are the ones to watch.
Dina Asher-Smith, from Great Britain, is one of the fastest British women in history. She set a world record for the 300-meter dash at the young age of 13. In 2015, she became the first British woman to run the 100-meter in under 11 seconds.
Léa Bayekula from Belgium competes in wheelchair racing. She won a bronze medal in the 100-meter race at the Para Athletics European Championships and broke a world record at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix. Bayekula is a testament to the power of resilience and positivity.
Pauline Dérouléde from France is a Paralympic tennis player. After a car accident resulted in the amputation of her leg, Dérouléde set her sights on the Paralympic Games. She also advocates for safer roads and works with a campaign to save lives.
Uta Abe from Japan became an Olympic gold medalist in judo at the Tokyo Games. She and her brother, Hifumi Abe, made history by winning gold medals on the same day, the first pair of siblings to do so. They also aim to increase judo's popularity and provide opportunities for younger generations.
Kuo Hsing-Chun from Taiwan won a gold medal in weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics. She overcame a serious injury that tore 70 percent of her thigh muscle before the 2014 Asian Games. Kuo proved her resilience by winning a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics just two years later.
Rebeca Andrade from Brazil made history as the first Brazilian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in artistic gymnastics. She won silver in the all-around and gold on vault at the Tokyo Games. Andrade began her training at a young age, walking for hours to the gym due to lack of transportation.
Jenni Hermoso from Spain is one of the most prolific strikers in soccer history. She kickstarted her career at Atletico Madrid's youth program and became a world champion at the 2023 World Cup. Hermoso is Spain's all-time leading female scorer.
Brandie Wilkerson from Canada is a professional beach volleyball player. She was inspired to try beach volleyball after watching the Canadian team in the 2012 Olympics. Wilkerson is the first Black woman to compete for Team Canada in beach volleyball and advocates for young BIPOC athletes through her scholarship program.
Ami Yuasa from Japan is a world champion in breaking, inspired by hip-hop music. She made history as the first woman to win the Red Bull BC One World Final in 2018, paving the way for other women in breaking. Yuasa is known for her perfectly executed tricks.
Rayssa Leal from Brazil, also known as "fadinha do skate" (little skating fairy), won silver at the Tokyo Olympics at just 13 years old, becoming the youngest Brazilian to win an Olympic medal. She has since achieved first-place finishes at various competitions, including the Pan American Games.
Janja Garnbret from Slovenia is a renowned climber with numerous titles and victories to her name. She advocates for health screenings in climbing and has spoken out about malnutrition in the sport. Garnbret is considered one of the greatest climbers of all time.
Anna Korakaki from Greece is a shooter who became the first Greek athlete to win two medals at the same Games during the Rio Olympics in 2016. She has since achieved first-place finishes at various championships. Korakaki credits her father for inspiring her to pursue shooting.
Safiya Al-Sayegh from the United Arab Emirates is the country's first professional female cyclist. She made history as the first Emirati woman to qualify for the road race at the Olympic Games. Al-Sayegh also represents the UAE's Olympic Committee Athlete Board.
