The Paris Olympics will bring together the world’s best athletes to compete for gold in 2024. This Summer Games will feature a variety of sports, culture, and unity, with athletes from all over the world aiming for top honors in their events.
About 10,000 athletes will be trying to win glory for their countries, but the number of athletes in each team varies greatly. Team USA is the largest with 593 athletes, while Belize, Liechtenstein, Nauru, and Somalia each have only one athlete in Paris.
Here’s a detailed look at the ten largest teams at the Paris Olympics 2024:
10. Canada
Number of Athletes: 318
Canada has 318 athletes competing, strong in athletics, swimming, and team sports like basketball and soccer. Canadian athletes are known for their competitive spirit and dedication, often performing well on the world stage.
Standout athletes like sprinter Andre De Grasse, swimmer Penny Oleksiak, and decathlon Olympic record-holder Damian Warner are part of the team aiming for gold at the 2024 Olympic Games. Together, the Canadian team has 15 Olympic medals and 36 medals from World Athletics Championships or World Athletics Relays.
ALSO READ: Top 5 Run Getter of Bangladesh Premier League
9. Great Britain
Number of Athletes: 327
Team GB are competing with 327 athletes to the Paris Olympics. They are strong in cycling, rowing, and athletics. At the 2020 Tokyo Games, Britain finishes fourth in the overall and gold medal tally. This year, they hope to be among the top three nations.
Some key names this year are cyclist Laura Kenny and track star Dina Asher-Smith. Adam Peaty hopes to dominate the swimming arena again and aims to be the first swimmer since Michael Phelps to win a third consecutive Olympic gold in a single event. Peaty is aiming for this in the men’s 100m breaststroke.
8. Spain
Number of Athletes: 382
Spain is represented by 382 athletes, with strengths in sports like basketball, tennis, and football. At the 2020 Tokyo Games, Spain wins 3 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze medals.
The current men’s French Open and Wimbledon champion, Carlos Alcaraz, competes for singles gold and also in doubles, teaming up with the most successful player at Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal. The men’s football team looks to win two golds in the same summer, after winning the Euro Championship in Germany.
7. China
Number of Athletes: 388
China is a strong presence at the Paris Olympics with 388 athletes. With a history of Olympic success in gymnastics, diving, and table tennis, Chinese athletes look to continue their nation’s dominance at the Olympics.
China finishes second in the final medal tally at the 2020 Games, with 89 medals, including 38 golds. Women’s shot put Olympic champion Gong Lijiao, diver Cao Yuan, who is competing in his fifth Olympics, and table tennis icon Ma Long are some of the names expected to shine at the 2024 Games.
ALSO READ: Top 5 Best Hockey Players of India
6. Italy
Number of Athletes: 403
Italy has a team of 403 athletes at the Paris Olympics. They are strong in fencing, swimming, and athletics. In the 2020 Games, Italy wins 40 medals, including 10 gold medals. They hope to have a successful Olympics this time too.
Some athletes to watch are men’s high jump Olympic champion Gianmarco Tamberi, the reigning men’s volleyball world champions, and women’s French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini, all aiming for Olympic gold in 2024.
5. Japan
Number of Athletes: 403
After successfully hosting the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Japan now has a large team of 403 athletes. Japan finishes third on the gold medal tally at their hosted Games, with 27 gold medals out of a total of 58 medals. This is their highest gold medal count at an Olympic Games.
Surfer Shino Matsuda, two-time world champion fencer Misaki Emura, and judoka Tatsuru Saito, son of double Olympic champion Hitoshi Saito, aim to continue the frequent victories for Japanese athletes established four years ago.
4. Germany
Number of Athletes: 428
Germany won 37 medals at the last Olympic Games, including 10 gold medals. Overall, Germany ranks fourth in the history of the Games, with a total of 770 medals and 229 gold medals in the Summer Olympics, counting both East and West Germany.
With 428 athletes competing at the Paris Games, Germany aims to win medals in various sports. The team includes Olympic champions like long-distance swimmer Florian Wellbrock, judoka Anna-Maria Wagner, and diver Lena Hentschel.
3. Australia
Number of Athletes: 460
Australia has sent 460 athletes to the Paris Olympics 2024. At the 2020 Tokyo Games, they won 46 medals, including 17 gold, and finished sixth overall. They have won at least one medal in every Olympics.
The men’s basketball team won bronze in Tokyo and is aiming to do even better this time. Canoeist Jessica Fox, swimmer Ariarne Titmus, and discus thrower Matthew Denny, all champions in their events, will be working to keep Australia’s strong Olympic tradition going.
ALSO READ: Top 5 Worst Result of Decision Review System
2. France
Number of Athletes: 573
As the host nation, France will have a strong showing with 573 athletes. French competitors are likely to do well in fencing, handball, rugby, and cycling. Athletes like foil fencer Ysaora Thibus and handball player Nikola Karabatić are expected to be top contenders for medals.
For French athletes, balancing the benefits of home advantage and crowd support with the pressure to perform well will be crucial for their success at the Olympics.
1. United States of America (USA)
Number of Athletes: 592
Team USA has the largest group at the Paris Olympics 2024, with 592 athletes. Although this team is a bit smaller than the 613 athletes they had in Tokyo 2020, they are still very strong and talented. Team USA will compete in 31 out of 32 sports this year, missing only team handball. For the fourth straight Summer Games, there will be more women than men on the team, with 314 women and 278 men.
Look out for stars like Simone Biles in gymnastics, Katie Ledecky in swimming, and track stars like Allyson Felix and Noah Lyles. Flag-bearers LeBron James (basketball) and Coco Gauff (tennis) are also big names and will be eager to shine at the Olympics.
As the Paris Olympics 2024 begin, these ten countries will lead the way with their large teams.
READ MORE: