There has been no shortage of inspiring female Olympians at the Games, past or present. And now, for the first time in Olympic history, the 2024 Paris Games will achieve complete gender parity in competition.
That’s right, the playing field is finally even, with an equal number of male and female athletes going for gold.
To celebrate this historic first, we’ve rounded up five of the most inspirational women to watch at the Paris Games. These fierce females dominate on and off the court, making a difference in the world around us.
Let’s meet the cultural game changers.
INSPIRING FEMALE OLYMPIANS TO WATCH AT THE OLYMPICS
01
Simone Biles – USA, Gymnastics
Simone Biles, with seven Olympic medals (four of them gold), has long been a gymnastic legend. And she’s set to return to the Olympic stage in Paris for one last hurrah. The star gymnast plans to retire after this round.
After taking a mental health break during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Simone, who has the support of Taylor Swift, has been open about the importance of emotional wellbeing.
“For so many years to go through everything that I’ve gone through, put on a front, I’m proud of myself. And I’m happy that I can be a leader for the survivors and bring courage to everybody speaking up. So I’m happy to be a voice for them,” Simone said on Today.
The gymnastic star’s courage to prioritise her health and come back stronger is such an inspiration to women and girls around the world.
02
Emma McKeon – Australia, Swimming
Emma McKeon is the most decorated Australian in Olympic history.
The New South Wales swimmer competed at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and won big. She took home three relay medals, including gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay alongside Brittany Elmslie, Brone Campbell, and Cate Campbell. She also took home an individual bronze medal in the 200m freestyle.
At Tokyo 2020, Emma went on to win four gold medals, including the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and relay victories in the 4x100m free (including a World Record) and women’s 4x100m medley relay.
As if that weren’t enough, the swimming legend nabbed bronze medals in the 100m butterfly, 4x200m freestyle relay, and 4x100m mixed medley relay taking her medal tally in Japan to seven. That is the most by any female swimmer at a single Olympic Games and the joint-most medals across any sport with Soviet gymnast Maris Gorokhovskaya.
Now the Olympian is retiring in style at the Paris Olympic Games. She said: “Swimming will always be a part of my life and has been for my whole life so far. But this will definitely be my last Olympics, so I’m excited for that.
“Success for me in Paris would be to swim faster than I ever have before.”
03
Sky Brown – Great Britain, Skateboarding
Sky Brown made history by winning bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Games (played in 2021 because COVID) at just 13 years old. Her skateboarding career started at the age of four.
And despite suffering a harrowing training injury few months before the Tokyo Olympics that kept her sidelined – and lucky to be alive – Sky, 16, has made a miraculous comeback.
The skateboarding legend secured qualification for Paris 2024 in Budapest, despite not being as she says “100 per cent”.
“My torn MCL is still not 100 per cent healed, so I can’t go very hard [but] I don’t want to keep it safe for Paris,” the young warrior said.
“Getting back in that bowl, skating with everyone, feeling that fire again… It was the best feeling. Being in the air while are screaming is my favourite thing!”
04
B-girl Nicka – Lithuania, Breaking
B-girl Nicka recently turned 16. And she’s been credited with putting Lithuania on the global breaking map.
Breaking – a style of street dance – is a new sport introduced in efforts to bring the Olympics to a wider and younger audience. And boy does B-girl Nicka make it look fun!
The breaker, who believes that age is only a number, isn’t scared of facing competitors twice her age.
“In breaking, it doesn’t matter how old you are. I deserve to be here and to compete at this level with all those athletes,” she told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview.
05
The Matildas – Australia, Soccer
Yes, the Matildas are more than one inspirational female – but on the field, they compete as one. And together, Australia’s national women’s soccer team are riding a green and gold wave of support all the way to Paris.
With fierce determination, the team has steadily risen through the ranks to become one of the top contenders in women’s soccer.
Led by Captain Sam Kerr, who unfortunately is nursing an injury and left to cheer on her teammates from the sidelines, the Matildas have overcome numerous challenges on and off the field.
The team is known for fighting for equal pay and better conditions for female athletes.
Coach Tony Gustavsson said, “I know that this team will give everything for the coat of arms and will represent Australia to the best of their ability in the true Aussie way.”
