Top U.S. individuals in the Rio Olympics
Top U.S. individuals in Rio.
Tianna Bartoletta
Bartoletta won the gold medal in the women's long jump at the 2015 World Outdoor Championships. She hopes to do the same in Rio. She's also a defending Olympic gold medalist in the 4x100 meter relay.
Simone Biles
Biles is favored to win the beam, floor exercise and individual all-around after recently winning four golds at the U.S. National Championships. She has a shot to become a household name soon.
Jordan Burroughs
The gold medal winner in the 74kg weight class at the 2012 London Games, Burroughs is looking to repeat after claiming the gold earlier this year at the Pan American Championships.
Michelle Carter
Carter won gold in the shot put at the 2016 World Indoor Championships after winning bronze at the 2015 World Championships. She has an excellent shot at getting on the medal stand in Rio.
Vashti Cunningham
The daughter of former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham, Vashti won gold in the high jump at the 2016 World Indoor Championships, setting the world junior record. Only 18, she could create quite a story if she medals in Rio.
Gabby Douglas
The gold medal winner in the all-around at the 2012 Olympics, Douglas is hoping to repeat. She faces stiff competition in teammate Simone Biles.
Ashton Eaton
The defending gold medal winner in the decathlon at the 2012 Games, Eaton is the world record holder. He's heavily favored to win the event again.
Allyson Felix
Felix already has six Olympic medals to her name over the last three games, including four golds. She's looking to place in the 200 meter for the fourth consecutive Olympics and also has a good shot in the 400 meter. Felix has also won three medals in relays.
Missy Franklin
Franklin claimed five medals in London, including four golds. While matching that success could be difficult, Franklin is favored to win the 200 meter backstroke.
English Gardner
Gardner is a major contender to win the women's 100 meter. She's won the silver medal twice at the World Championships in the 4x100 meter relay.
Justin Gatlin
Gatlin won gold in the 100 meter back in 2004, but since then he's been overshadowed by Usain Bolt. He still claimed the bronze in 2012. Gatlin is running as well as ever, winning silver in the 100 meter and 200 meter at the 2015 World Championships.
Adeline Gray
Women's wrestler Adeline Gray has medaled at the World Championships in five consecutive years, and she's favored in the 75kg weight class.
Connor Jaeger
Jaeger won silver in the 1500 meter freestyle at the 2015 World Championships and is looking to do even better in Rio.
Gwen Jorgensen
Jorgensen is the two-time defending champion of the ITU Triathlon World Championships and could be set to win her first medal at the Olympics.
Joe Kovacs
Kovacs won gold in the shot put at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, and the Penn State alumnus is favored to win again in Rio.
Katie Ledecky
Ledecky won gold in the 800 meter freestyle at the 2012 London Games and tallied five golds at the 2015 World Championships. The 19-year-old could be set for a huge Olympics.
Ryan Lochte
Lochte has 11 Olympic medals to his name over the last three Olympics, including five in 2012. He medaled four times at the 2015 World Championships and has a great shot at placing again in the 200 meter individual medley.
Michael Phelps
This will likely be Phelps' last run in the Olympics, as he looks to add to his 22 Olympic medals, including 18 gold medals. He remains the heavy favorite in the 100 meter butterfly and 200 meter individual medley, and also has a strong chance to medal in the 200 meter butterfly.
Brittney Reese
Reese won gold in the long jump at the 2012 London Games and is coming off a win at the World Indoor Championships. She hopes to claim her second Olympic gold.
Claressa Shields
Shields won gold in the middleweight division at the 2012 London Games and is a favorite to win gold again in 2016.
Christian Taylor
Taylor won gold in the triple jump at the 2012 London Games and is looking to repeat after winning gold at the 2015 World Championships.
Michael Tinsley
Tinsley won the silver medal in the 400 meter hurdle at the 2012 London Games and could do even better this time around.
Serena Williams
Williams has four Olympics gold medals, going all the way back to her doubles title at the 2000 Sydney Games. She won gold in singles and doubles in 2012.
Jordan Wilimovsky
Wilimovsky won gold in the 10 km open water at the 2015 World Championships and is favored to do the same in Rio.
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