Tokyo 2021: The Incredible Female Athletes People Are Going To Want To Watch
Fans are gearing up to watch world-class athletes in Tokyo for the 2021 Summer Olympic Games. The question is, who will make it past the qualifying rounds and be the ones to watch during the games?
From the incredible Sky Brown hopefully making the UK skateboarding team to people wondering what crazy trick gymnast Simone Biles will pull off next, here are some of the female athletes people are going to want to watch during the 2021 Olympic Games.
Dalilah Muhammad, A Track & Field Runner From The USA
Dalilah Muhammad won gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics and is determined to wear that medal around her neck once more in 2021. With a record-breaking speed of 52.16 seconds at the 2019 World Championships 400 meter hurdle event, Muhammad is definitely going to be someone to watch out for when Toyko comes around in 2021 (if viewers' eyes can keep up!).
The second female to ever win gold at both a world event, the Olympics, and a world record holder, Muhammad is sure to give a heartstopping performance at the 2021 Games.
Leticia Bufoni, A Skateboarder From Brazil
Brazilian street skater Leticia Bufoni is gearing up for the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. A five-time X Games gold medalist, Bufoni is tied for the most first-place wins in Women's SKB Street, making her a lady to watch at the games this upcoming summer.
Currently ranked 13th in the world, Bufoni was coming off an injury in 2020, right before skateboarding competitions shut down for the year. Now, she's back to training and hoping to qualify for the Games.
Danusia Francis, A Gymnast From Jamaica
While Danusia Francis competed with the UCLA gymnastic team during her collegiate years, this gymnast represents Jamaica when it comes to international competition. A six-time All-American and NCAA co-champion on the balance beam, it's going to be interesting watching her talent against the likes of Simone Biles and the rest of Team USA.
Earning two perfect scores of 10 points while competing with UCLA, it's going to be interesting to see what Francis brings to the gym in 2021. She's sure to be a worthy and fierce competitor for Team Jamaica and one to keep an eye on!
Simone Manuel, A Swimmer From The USA
Two-time gold medal winner and two-time silver medal winner at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, Simone Manuel is ready to defend her swimming titles. In 2021 Manuel is looking to add a few new medals to her collection, particularly for the 100-meter freestyle and 4x100 medley relay events.
After snagging four gold medals at the 2019 World Championships, Manuel is in an excellent position to make the 2021 USA Swim Team. The sprinter is definitely going to be one to watch in the water.
Naomi Osaka, A Tennis Player From Japan
In 2021, Naomi Osaka is yearning to take home gold in Tennis while playing in her native Japan during the Summer Olympic Games. Osaka would become the first Japanese female to bring home a medal for the event if she were to place.
As the Games are being held in Tokyo, it's a very exciting time for the four-time Grand Slam singles champion and first-time Olympian. With fierce competition coming in from all over the world, Osaka will be one contender worth watching.
Aliphine Tuliamuk, A Marathon Runner From The USA
Beating out two-time Olympian Des Linden and half-marathon record holder Molly Huddle to win gold at the US Olympic Marathon Trials, Aliphine Tuliamuk has proven she's going to be a force during the marathon event at the 2021 Games. With a qualifying time of 2:27:23, she might as well be handed the gold medal now!
And that time was after an injury that left her unable to run and train. With her inspiring comeback story, along with her incredible talent, Tuliamuk is going to be someone worth watching during the 2021 Olympic Games.
Sky Brown, A Skateboarder From The UK
The 2021 Summer Games are going to be the first to showcase skateboarding as an event. And 13-year-old Sky Brown is determined to win gold for Great Britain. The youngest professional skateboarder in the world, Brown is one of five competing for a spot on the UK team.
As the first female to land both a frontside 540 at the X Games and the first to land a 720, Brown is definitely someone to look out for during Toyko 2021. She's sure to show off some big-air tricks!
Morgan Hurd, A Gymnast From The USA
While Team USA hasn't chosen its select few gymnasts for the 2021 Olympic Games, Morgan Hurd is said to be a strong contender. The 2017 World all-around champion, the 2018 World floor exercise silver medalist, and all-around bronze medalist, a two-time American Cup champion, and part of the 2019 Pan American Games gold medalist team, Hurd is no stranger to the podium.
Known for her grace while performing difficult skills, Hurd placed fourth at the 2019 US Gymnastics Championships, making her a strong contender for Team USA come the 2021 Games in Tokyo.
Simone Biles, A Gymnast From The USA
In 2021, Simone Biles hopes to make one last showing of her excellent skills in the gym during the Toyko Games. America's most decorated gymnast, Biles never disappoints when she hits the mat, bars, beam, or vault, proving each time that her talent is unmatched.
A person doesn't become a 30-time Olympic and World Championship medalist by playing it safe! One of the most recognized people in the sport, Biles' grace, eloquence, and skill level while flipping through the air puts her miles ahead of her competition. She'll always be someone to keep an eye on!
Carissa Moore, A Surfer From The USA
For the first time in Olympic history, surfing is being added to the roster as an event. And Honolulu, Hawaii-native Carissa Moore is one to watch during the event's debut. A four-time Women's World Tour Champion, Moore is considered a top-seed contender going into the 2021 Games.
While she took time in 2020 to train and prepare for the Olympics, Moore came off a stellar 2019 season. That year, she found herself on the podium eight out of ten competitions, never making it below the bottom five. During the Summer Games, Moore is sure to show the world what she can do in the water.
Georganne Moline, A Track And Field Star From The USA
After finishing fifth in the 400-meter hurdle event at the 2021 Summer Games, Georganne Moline is ready to head back to the Games and make it to the podium. With more than one injury standing in her way over the years, including a back injury and foot surgery, not to mention mental blocks, Moline is back and better than ever.
While the competition for her main event is beyond tough, Moline is someone to watch. After being out of competition for 18 months, she came back to win gold at the Inspiration Games. Nothing is slowing this hurdler down in 2021!
Nevin Harrison, A Paddler From The USA
At the World Championships in 2019, Nevin Harrison became the first American to bring home gold for canoeing, one of two paddling sports. And, in 2021, her gold-medal sport is making its debut alongside kayaking as the second paddling sport of the Olympics.
Being Harrison and her sports first Olympic Games, she has a decent shot at making the podium. The runner-turned-paddler is going to be one of the female athletes to keep your eye on come the 2021 Games.
Chloe Dygert, A Cyclist From The USA
A six-time World Champion in cycling, Chloe Dygert secured her spot on Team USA after winning the 2019 world title in the road time trial. Known for giving it her all in every race, Dygert isn't going to go down without a fight during the 2021 Summer Games, her Olympic debut.
Winning silver at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Women's team pursuit, Dygert is a lady to watch in the fast lane, as she's itching to step a bit further up the podium and win gold in 2021.
Rachel Garcia, A Softball Player From The USA
The current leader in collegiate NCAA strikeouts for active players, Rachel Garcia, is amped and ready to take on the 2021 pitchers mound as part of TEAM USA's softball team. The sport hasn't been in an event since 2008, and Garcia is ready to bring home some gold in 2021.
Helping bring UCLA to the national championship, Garcia was named the Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player that year, and her being just a junior at the time! Considered one of the greatest NCAA pitchers of all time, she's definitely going to be an incredible lady to watch during the Summer Games.
Allyson Felix, A Track And Field Star From The USA
Allyson Felix is ready to return to the Olympic stage for her fifth games. The most decorated track and field star of all time, Felix has won a solid six Olympic gold medals, part of the 18 career medals she has to her name.
A force to be reckoned with, in 2019, Felix surpassed Usain Bolt for the most gold medals won by any athlete in history, winning her 12th and 13th gold during the World Championships. If Felix keeps it up, she is sure to add another gold to her ongoing collection.
Stephanie Gilmore, A Surfer From Australia
The surfing debut at the Olympic Games would be little fun without Australian native Stephanie Gilmore there. The seven-time world champion on the Women's WSL World Tour, Gilmore continues to dominate the world of professional surfing and is sure to be a lot of fun to watch during the 2021 Games.
According to an interview Gilmore did with PopSugar, she's always dreamt of heading to the Olympics, but it's never been possible until now. During the interview, she said, "I never thought I'd get the chance as a surfer, but here we are, and it's like a dream come true."
Deja Young, A Track And Field Star From The USA
Deja Young has been running on the track since she found a love for the sport as a freshman in college. Now, she's preparing and training for her second Paralympic appearance in 2021. Wanting to defend her two-gold title, Young is looking to win in both the 100-meter T46 and 200-meter T46 events.
An inspiring young lady with talent and a need for speed, Young is going to be a lady to watch while she runs circles around the competition in Tokyo in 2021.
Lindsey Horan, A Soccer Player From The USA
Team USA's female soccer team just got that much stronger with the addition of midfielders Lindsey Horan. But Horan is coming into the 2021 Games with a little bit to prove. Having been left out of the starting lineup for many of the World Cup games, Horan is sure to come out swinging and proving why she's considered one of the best midfielders in the world.
Already securing her first professional hat trick during the Olympic qualifiers, Horan is sure to bring a new level of competition to the Olympic stage come 2021.
Kate Courtney, A Mountain Biker From The USA
After 17 years, Kate Courtney became the first American to snag a win at the World Cup for cross-country mountain biking, securing her spot on Team USA for the 2021 Olympic Games in the process. If she keeps it up, Courtney is a likely podium contender, something Team USA hasn't seen since 2012.
In a new "golden age" of cycling, Courtney is bound to show the rest of the world what she's made of in Tokyo. She's one athlete people aren't going to want to skip over watching.
Katie Ledecky, A Swimmer From The USA
A dominant force in the pool, Katie Ledecky is always someone to watch when she's competing, and the same goes for the 2021 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Known for leaving her competition meters down the pool and breaking records left and right, there's a reason Ledecky has won so many medals through her career.
She's won five Olympic gold medals and 15 gold World Championship medals, to be exact! Now, it's time to watch as Ledecky pulls off another incredible performance in the multiple long-course and freestyle events she's known to win.
