2020 Summer Olympics storylines to keep an eye on

Considering what the aggressive new strain of the coronavirus has done in China and South Korea and the fact it could potentially reach pandemic status, it's fair to wonder if the 2020 Games in Tokyo will actually be held, especially since the city has a three-month window to be certain all is well. At the moment, the answer is yes. And American athletes have been told to continue training and preparing for the games as scheduled. Japan, the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo organizers are doing all they can to ensure the games will be safe for athletes and spectators alike.

So what if the games are not held in Tokyo as planned? One possible scenario would be to move the Olympics out of Japan. London might be willing to host, though the folks in Japan don't seem happy about moving the games out of their country should the coronavirus wreak havoc on the Tokyo area. For now, all systems are go, but don't think some official plans are being made behind the scenes should such matters present themselves. Tokyo, which held the 1964 Summer Games, is set to be the first Asian city to host twice.

While American superstar gymnast Simone Biles herself has indicated that this will likely be her final Olympic competition, there's a good chance she will go out in style. Biles, who won four Olympic golds in at the 2016 Rio Games, could very well go one better and take home five in Tokyo. There is no athlete throughout these games who will have more eyes fixed on them than Biles. 

While it does not look good for Tiger Woods to represent the United States in the golf portion of the 2020 Olympics, LeBron James' status remains more intriguing. Woods has plenty of ground to make up to earn a spot in the American top four, but James will basically make his own decision on whether to play. Should his Los Angeles Lakers make a deep postseason run, it's possible he will bypass — as was the case in 2016.

In December, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) slapped a four-year international ban on Russia. That includes the 2020 Olympics, though as was the case at the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea, authorized athletes from the country can compete, but not under the Russia name or flag. This story, however, is ongoing as the country appealed WADA's decision.

The most decorated female track and field athlete of all time with nine Olympic medals (six gold), America's Allyson Felix has her sights set on becoming the second U.S. sprinter to compete in five Olympics. This time, she's poised to do it as a mother. Felix, who gave birth to daughter Camryn in 2018, seems more determined than ever to prove that she can still compete at an elite international level while also changing diapers.

The U.S. Track and Field trials are not until late June, but that will be a major precursor of what is likely to come in Tokyo — at least in terms of the sprint events. Usain Bolt no longer rules the roost, and the red, white and blue should boast the world's best in the three main sprint events this summer: Christian Coleman in the 100 meters, Noah Lyles competing in the 200 and Michael Norman, who currently reigns supreme in the 400. 

U.S. swim fans are waiting for the next Michael Phelps. In the reality, though, will anybody be able to top the most decorated Olympian of all time (28 medals)? Plenty of signs point to tattooed wonder Caeleb Dressel as someone who can possibly challenge Phelps in the hardware department. Dressel won a pair of relay golds in 2016 and is currently the world record-holder in the 100 meter butterfly and also has the U.S. mark in the 50 and 100 freestyle, plus the 50 and 100 butterfly.

It's still tough to grasp that U.S. swimming star Katie Ledecky will turn only 23 this year. The five-time Olympic gold medalist will try to win a third consecutive gold in the 800 free. While some even younger female swimmers from around the world have popped up to challenge Ledecky, it's quite possible she could bring home gold in as many as six events in Tokyo.

Four new sports will be added to the Olympic program this summer: karate, sport climbing, surfing and skateboarding. U.S. snowboarding star Shaun White was hoping to make the American skateboarding team, but after a poor showing at the world championships in September, it does not look like that will happen. Kelly Slater, the biggest name in surfing and a former "Baywatch" cast member, also failed to qualify for the U.S. team at age 47.

Speaking of skateboarding, the sport could end up being the talk of the Olympics if Great Britain's Sky Brown has anything to say about it. Should this pint-sized dynamo, who was born in Japan to a British father and Japanese mother, qualify, she would be 12 years old when the games roll around. That would make Brown, who won bronze at the skateboarding world championships, the youngest Olympian in Britain's history.

For the first time since 2008, baseball and softball are back on the Olympic stage. One major reason for the return of both events is their respective popularity in the host country of Japan, especially baseball. Japan's best Olympic finish in baseball came with a silver in 1996. The U.S., meanwhile, won its only gold with baseball as an official sport in 2000. On the softball side, U.S. legend Cat Osterman made the national team at age 36.

One new attraction basketball fans will have their eye on is the 3x3 competition added to the Olympic hoops program. The half-court, first-to-21 wins (unless time expires) competition begins qualifying in March. Former Purdue standout Robbie Hummel is the most prominent member of the U.S. men's side, while WNBA star Napheesa Collier highlights the women's team.  

Perhaps the most intriguing storyline leading up to the games centers around New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who is looking to become the first transgender athlete to qualify for Olympic competition. Formerly Gavin Hubbard as a national competitor, the 42-year-old began transitioning in her mid-30s. What's even more impressive is that Hubbard, who won silver at the 2017 world championships, has put herself in position to qualify after recovering from a ruptured elbow ligament.

While it's a matter of unfinished business for the U.S. women's soccer team after its stunning upset to Sweden in the semifinals of the 2016 Games, the squad also has a chance to win the World Cup and Olympic gold in back-to-back years for the first time. Megan Rapinoe will look to repeat her stellar World Cup play, and Alex Morgan is expected to return from her pregnancy for new coach Vlatko Andonovski.

The U.S. women's soccer team isn't alone in terms of Olympic redemption. One of the most shocking results at the 2016 Games was four-time gold-medal world champion and 2012 Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs placing ninth in the 74kg class. Older, wiser and more determined than ever, Burroughs is definitely someone to follow.

For those fans of Team USA, here are some important qualifying dates to remember. It will be a busy month of June with diving (June 14-21) and swimming (June 21-28) taking place. The always popular Track and Field trials will take place June 19-28, and the gymnastics trials are June 25-28.

South African Caster Semenya has once again taken to the track — just not in the event that made her famous. The 2016 champion in the 800 meters, is banned from running any distance between 400 meters and the mile in sanctioned events unless she medically reduces her natural testosterone level. Semenya recently competed in the 300 meters, which is not an Olympic event, and she's not likely fast enough to qualify in the 200. So unless she gives in, Semenya probably won't be in Tokyo. Stay tuned.

It's always fun to predict who will have the honor of being the one to officially light the Olympic cauldron. It seemed the moment Tokyo was awarded the games, guessing and predictions started to fly. Some names that have been mentioned: MLB star Ichiro Suzuki or three-time gold medal-winning wrestler Saori Yoshida. Maybe judo star Tadahiro Nomura, swimmer Kosuke Kitajima or marathon staple Naoko Takahashi. There's also gymnast Kohei Uchimura and wrestler Kaori Icho. It's also been suggested that reigning Women's British Open champion golfer Hinako Shibuno, tennis star Naomi Osaka or even Los Angeles Angels dual-threat Shohei Ohtani are possibilities. 

Every Olympics has that one athlete who stands out, either for a memorable performance or complete domination of the competition. Names like Bolt, Phelps and Biles in the past. Will Biles again earn that moniker in what's expected to be her final Olympics? Perhaps Dressel? Or Coleman? Maybe Bahamian speedster Shaunae Miller-Uibo? Or, closer to home, Osaka or Sky Brown? We're ready to see.