Team USA Breakout Stars to Watch at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Team USA has plenty of familiar names headed to the 2024 Paris Olympics, but several others seem destined to leave the Summer Games as well-recognized stars.

After all, there's no better stage for a breakout performance.

Several notable young athletes—including 18-year-old skateboarder Minna Stess and 16-year-old sprinter Quincy Wilson—will represent the United States. They simply might take a back seat to the following group.

Each athlete mentioned is 22 years old or younger and holds legitimate gold-medal aspirations in Paris.

Note: Any number of countries have a rising star—such as Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh—who deserves a breakout projection. However, this piece is focused exclusively on U.S. athletes.

Amit Elor has traveled a steady path to stardom.

The 20-year-old wrestler has dominated at championships since 2021, winning three juniors, two U23s and two worlds.

Although she typically competes in the 72-kilogram class, the Olympics only offers 68kg and 76kg. Elor, who will become the youngest female wrestler ever to represent the United States, has decided to cut weight and participate in the 68kg competition.

Elor is aiming to follow Tamyra Mensah-Stock, who earned gold for Team USA in 68kg during the Tokyo Games.

Back in 2021, Katie Ledecky gave Katie Grimes a simple, resounding encouragement: You're the future.

And that's certainly held true.

Grimes, who made her Olympic debut in Tokyo at 15 years old, is poised to make American history at 18. She'll be the first U.S. swimmer to compete in pool and open water events at the same Olympics.

In the pool, Grimes will compete in the 400-meter individual medley and 1,500-meter freestyle—events in which she's won a silver at worlds. Grimes is also slated to swim in the open water 10k; she earned a bronze in the distance at worlds in 2023.

Oh, and she starts college in the fall.

Emma Hunt graduated from high school one year early. That's only fitting for a speed climber, I would say.

Heading to Paris at 21 years old, Hunt is a rising star in the discipline. While she hasn't yet caught Poland's Aleksandra Miroslaw for the world record (6.24s), the American's fastest time is within a tenth of a second (6.30).

Hunt recently became the first U.S. woman to medal in speed at the World Championships, taking home silver in 2023.

The qualification round for Hunt is slated for Monday, Aug. 5, with the finals to follow on Wednesday, Aug. 7.

The reality of elite competition is that injuries happen, and Team USA endured that reality during the Olympic trials. Three gymnasts endured a serious injury that prevented them from contending for a spot in Paris.

Out of that disappointment, however, Hezly Rivera found herself as part of a star-studded roster.

Rivera is set to join Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles on the U.S. team—one favored to win gold.

Rivera is the lone newcomer to the group. She is 16 years old and specializes in beam and uneven bars.

On one hand, Regan Smith is a known commodity because she secured three medals at the Tokyo Games.

But that coveted gold medal eluded her.

Smith has a few opportunities to change that in Paris, where the 22-year-old is expected to compete in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke, 200-meter fly and likely the 4x100 medley relay.

Australian rival Kaylee McKeown is Smith's main competition in backstroke, and Canada's Summer McIntosh fits the billing in butterfly. Smith, nevertheless, is one of the fastest swimmers in history for each discipline—and currently holds the world record in the 100 back.

Smith is positioned well to leave the Summer Games among the most decorated athletes from Team USA.

Like her teammate Smith, Gretchen Walsh is preparing for a busy and potentially medal-filled schedule.

Walsh qualified for the 50-meter free and 100-meter fly during the Olympic trials. In addition to likely contributing on relays, she'll be racing the 100-meter free after Kate Douglass ceded her spot, too.

But that 100-meter fly is Walsh's specialty.

While at the U.S. trials, the 21-year-old broke the world record with a 55.18-second time. Walsh clipped the previous mark set by Sweden's Sarah Sjöström, who's not competing in her legacy event in Paris.

Walsh, whose sister Alex is a two-time Olympian, may combine with Torri Huske to give Team USA a gold and silver in the 100 fly.