In 1900, 22 women in 5 fields were allowed to participate in the Olympics in Paris: in Tennis, Golf, Sailing, Equestrianism, and Croquet.
121 years later, and after a long and uncompromised struggle, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (in 2021) are happening with women in almost all competitive fields. Their capabilities have no limit, and new Olympics records and Firsts are about to happen.
We salute and cheer to all the women who will participate in the games. But this post is dedicated to five exceptional athletes from the US team, who we believe will make history in Tokyo 2020.
Photo credit – Sam Balye, Unsplash
Katie Ledecky, Swim
The most decorated competitive female swimmer in history
Ledecky (b.1997) won her first Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics when she was only 15 years old. Since then, she is almost unbeatable, winning one medal after another and setting new world records.
So far, she has won 34 medals in total, 15 gold medals in international competitions, 5 Olympic medals, set 14 world records and 37 American Records.
Simone Biles, Gymnastics
The most decorated American gymnast and the greatest gymnast in history
Biles (b.1997) is coming to Tokyo with a record of 30 Olympic and World Championship medals and many Firsts she set on the way. She was a rock star in Rio 2016, winning 4 gold medals and 1 bronze and increasing the USA team score to be in the first place. Her performance gets more stunning in every competition, perfectly performing impossible stunts.
There is no question she will win Tokyo 2020 big time.
Brooke Raboutou, Sport Climbing
The first American to qualify for the Olympics in sport climbing
Sport Climbing will compete for the first time in the Olympic game. The winner must dominate in three disciplines: lead climbing, speed climbing, and bouldering.
Raboutou (b. 2001) comes from a family of former world champion rock climbers, and she herself already won several world titles and made several Firsts since she was 9 years old.
Nevin Harrison, Canoe Sprint
The first American woman to participate in the Olympics in paddling event
Harrison (b. 2002), a Seattle native, started to practice paddling after giving up running due to an injury and became the first American female sprint canoe world champion at the age of 17. With several international titles she already gained, she has an excellent chance to bring an Olympic medal for the first time in paddling.
Allyson Felix, Track and field
The most decorated female Olympian in track and field history
Felix (b. 1985) already participated in 4 Olympic games and won nine Olympic medals, breaking world records and making several Firsts. In 2019, 10 months after she gave birth in an emergency c-section, she made history, becoming the only athlete to win 12 gold medals at the world championships.
In Tokyo 2020, she will probably win some more medals in the 400-meter and 4×400-meter relay.
Photo credit – Bryan Turner, Unsplash
