Olympians chasing records
NBA star Kevin Durant could become the first male athlete to win four gold medals in any team sport if Team USA wins a fifth straight basketball gold medal on Aug. 10, but his record could be tied just 24 hours later if France wins the men’s handball match the next day.
Three-time France IHF World Player of the Year Nikola Karabatic appeared in the last five Olympics, helping his team win gold Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Tokyo 2020. It could be an emotional farewell in front of a home crowd at the Stade Pierre Mauroy on the final day of competition with the 40-year-old, one of the sport’s greatest players, retiring after Paris 2024.
But you don’t have to be a multiple Olympian to break records. Jimmer Fredette could make history just by stepping onto the 3×3 pitch at Place de la Concorde on July 30.
In 2011, the basketball world was in the midst of a phenomenon known as ‘Jimmermania’. At the time, Fredette, a young college student, was setting the NBA on fire and shooting for fun. The point guard moved to the People’s Republic of China where he was named MVP before making the switch to 3×3 in 2022.
By participating in Paris 2024, Fredette will become the first NBA player to compete in the Olympic 3×3 tournament and could even help Team USA to their first men’s Olympic title in debut. The final will take place on Monday, August 5.
In the women’s tournament, both Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young they could become the first players to win an Olympic gold medal in both 3×3 and 5×5. The duo helped lead Team USA to women’s 3×3 gold at Tokyo 2020, where Plum finished tied for the tournament’s top scorer, along with Wang Liliwith 55 points.
It will be a remarkable achievement if he manages to top the scoreboard again.
Otherwise, seven-time Olympic gold medalists Isabelle Werth and Kate Ledecky have the opportunity to etch their names into the history books by winning the most Olympic gold medals in any sport. The current women’s record is held by the athlete Larisa Latininawho won nine gold medals during her illustrious career.
German equestrian star Werth could win two golds at ChΓ’teau de Versailles to match Latynina’s tally, while American swimming ace Ledecky could surpass both if she wins three of her four events at La Defense Arena *.*.
At Chateauroux Shooting Center, Nino Salukvadze has a chance to extend her record for participation in the most Olympic Games. Paris 2024 will be her 10thu Olympics β a remarkable feat that no other woman has come close to.
Since then, the Georgian shooter has competed in every Olympic Games Seoul 1988the same year that Florence Griffith-Joyner she set the women’s 100m and 200m world record nine years ago as well Simone Biles – the most decorated athlete in history – was born.
Salukvadze has three gold medals to her name and could also break a record as the first athlete to compete in 10 consecutive Olympics when she appears in Paris 2024 from July 27.