MICHAEL PHELPS TOOK THE world by storm as he torpedoed his way to six gold medals in Athens 12 years ago.
Four years later in Beijing, the spotlight turned to a bolting enigma from Jamaica.
Both Phelps and Bolt will be aiming to add to their glittering medal haul when Rio 2016 gets underway next week, but there are plenty of others ready to take the world by storm and become the Olympics’ next big sporting sensation.
Here are five of the top contenders:
Simone Biles (Gymnastics)
Simone Biles performs on the balance beam during the US women's gymnastics championships. Jeff Roberson
Jeff Roberson
At just 19 years of age, Biles boasts a haul of medals that many gymnasts could only dream of at the end of their careers. Coming into the Rio Olympics, the American has already won an astonishing 10 world championship golds.
Expectations are understandably high but Biles is more than capable of handling the pressure having not lost a single competition in three years.
It is quite possible that we could witness the beginning of the most successful Olympic gymnastics career of all time when she takes to the floor this summer. Shannon Miller currently holds the record for most Olympic gold medals won by an female gymnast from the US with two. With the Ohio-born athlete favourite in many of her events at Rio, it appears that Miller won’t be holding onto her record for long.
Dafne Schippers (Athletics)
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Dafne Schippers celebrates winning the women's 200m final at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing. PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Schippers, the flying Dutchwoman, is primed and ready to shatter the invincible aura of Shelley Ann Fraser-Pryce and deprive the Jamaican of her third Olympic gold medal in the women’s 100m.
A heptathlete turned sprinter, Schippers competed at the 2012 Olympics without winning a medal but her form over the last two years suggests that glory is looming in Rio for the 24-year-old.
She is the current 200m world champion after storming to victory in Beijing last year but she missed out narrowly to Fraser-Pryce in the 100m event. Fresh from winning at the European Championships in spectacular fashion, Schippers will surely be targeting more than just one gold medal in South America.
Katie Ledecky
Katie Ledecky prepares to swim in the women's 200m freestyle final at the 2016 US Olympic swimming trials. Orlin Wagner
Orlin Wagner
With one gold medal already to her name, there are reasons to argue that Ledecky shouldn’t be on this list. Aged just 15 years of age in 2012, she won the 800m freestyle and came dangerously close to the world record in the process.
But if there is one athlete to keep an eye on this summer in Rio, Ledecky is the one. She already holds a multitude of world records and understandably, comparisons with a certain Michael Phelps are already being made.
This summer, the American is not only trying to nail down her position as the world’s greatest swimmer, but perhaps the world’s greatest athlete. Watch this space.
Genzebe Dibaba (Athletics)
Genzebe Dibaba won the women's 1500m final at the 2015 World Athletics Championships in Beijing. Lee Jin-man
Lee Jin-man
Ethiopia’s tradition in long distance running is well-established, and its upkeep looks to be very safe in the hands of this young woman.
Dibaba was a real threat to bring home a medal in London four years ago after winning gold in the women’s 1500m final at the World Indoor Championships six months earlier. Only for the misfortune of an untimely hamstring injury while competing in London, she could very well be defending a gold medal, rathern than fighting for her first.
London 2012 hasn’t deterred the 25-year old and she will be looking to build on what has been four years of stunning form. She holds numerous world records and world indoor titles as well as being the current world champion over 1500m.
It will be no shock if Dibaba follows in the steps of sister Tirunesh, a triple Olympic gold medallist herself, and climbs to the top of the podium more than once this summer.
Riyad Mahrez (Football)
Riyad Mahrez kisses the Premier League trophy after winning the title with Leicester City in May. Matt Dunham
Matt Dunham
Of all the names on this list, Mahrez is probably the one ringing most with familiarity. His exploits in the Premier League have made him a household name in Britain and Ireland but he has yet to bring such form to a world stage with Algeria.
The Olympics provides him with the perfect opportunity to do so and although Algeria will face tough competition in a group with Portugal and Argentina, Mexico’s shock win in 2012 can inspire the Africans.
Last year’s PFA Players’ Player of the Season will be eager to make up for a largely mediocre 2014 World Cup by his recent standards. He made one appearance for his country in Brazil but he now has an opportunity to set the record straight on his return to the country.
The 25-year old is likely to miss the beginning of the new season in the Premier League with Leicester City due to the Games but a gold medal would surely make up for the sacrifice.
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The time is now: 5 athletes who are ready to light up the Rio Olympics
MICHAEL PHELPS TOOK THE world by storm as he torpedoed his way to six gold medals in Athens 12 years ago.
Four years later in Beijing, the spotlight turned to a bolting enigma from Jamaica.
Both Phelps and Bolt will be aiming to add to their glittering medal haul when Rio 2016 gets underway next week, but there are plenty of others ready to take the world by storm and become the Olympics’ next big sporting sensation.
Here are five of the top contenders:
Simone Biles (Gymnastics)
At just 19 years of age, Biles boasts a haul of medals that many gymnasts could only dream of at the end of their careers. Coming into the Rio Olympics, the American has already won an astonishing 10 world championship golds.
Expectations are understandably high but Biles is more than capable of handling the pressure having not lost a single competition in three years.
It is quite possible that we could witness the beginning of the most successful Olympic gymnastics career of all time when she takes to the floor this summer. Shannon Miller currently holds the record for most Olympic gold medals won by an female gymnast from the US with two. With the Ohio-born athlete favourite in many of her events at Rio, it appears that Miller won’t be holding onto her record for long.
Dafne Schippers (Athletics)
Schippers, the flying Dutchwoman, is primed and ready to shatter the invincible aura of Shelley Ann Fraser-Pryce and deprive the Jamaican of her third Olympic gold medal in the women’s 100m.
A heptathlete turned sprinter, Schippers competed at the 2012 Olympics without winning a medal but her form over the last two years suggests that glory is looming in Rio for the 24-year-old.
She is the current 200m world champion after storming to victory in Beijing last year but she missed out narrowly to Fraser-Pryce in the 100m event. Fresh from winning at the European Championships in spectacular fashion, Schippers will surely be targeting more than just one gold medal in South America.
Katie Ledecky
With one gold medal already to her name, there are reasons to argue that Ledecky shouldn’t be on this list. Aged just 15 years of age in 2012, she won the 800m freestyle and came dangerously close to the world record in the process.
But if there is one athlete to keep an eye on this summer in Rio, Ledecky is the one. She already holds a multitude of world records and understandably, comparisons with a certain Michael Phelps are already being made.
This summer, the American is not only trying to nail down her position as the world’s greatest swimmer, but perhaps the world’s greatest athlete. Watch this space.
Genzebe Dibaba (Athletics)
Ethiopia’s tradition in long distance running is well-established, and its upkeep looks to be very safe in the hands of this young woman.
Dibaba was a real threat to bring home a medal in London four years ago after winning gold in the women’s 1500m final at the World Indoor Championships six months earlier. Only for the misfortune of an untimely hamstring injury while competing in London, she could very well be defending a gold medal, rathern than fighting for her first.
London 2012 hasn’t deterred the 25-year old and she will be looking to build on what has been four years of stunning form. She holds numerous world records and world indoor titles as well as being the current world champion over 1500m.
It will be no shock if Dibaba follows in the steps of sister Tirunesh, a triple Olympic gold medallist herself, and climbs to the top of the podium more than once this summer.
Riyad Mahrez (Football)
Of all the names on this list, Mahrez is probably the one ringing most with familiarity. His exploits in the Premier League have made him a household name in Britain and Ireland but he has yet to bring such form to a world stage with Algeria.
The Olympics provides him with the perfect opportunity to do so and although Algeria will face tough competition in a group with Portugal and Argentina, Mexico’s shock win in 2012 can inspire the Africans.
Last year’s PFA Players’ Player of the Season will be eager to make up for a largely mediocre 2014 World Cup by his recent standards. He made one appearance for his country in Brazil but he now has an opportunity to set the record straight on his return to the country.
The 25-year old is likely to miss the beginning of the new season in the Premier League with Leicester City due to the Games but a gold medal would surely make up for the sacrifice.
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Dafne Schippers Genzebe Dibaba katie ledecky Olympics 2016 Rio Rio Stars riyad mahrez simone biles