With the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics officially here, it’s only right that we showcase some of the Black women in sports who are demonstrating their skills to the world. You already know names like Simone Biles and A’Ja Wilson, but here are some others you should be paying attention to.
What can Simone Biles not do? She’s the most accomplished professional gymnast in the world. During the 2021 Olympics, she took a stand for athletes with mental health issues after she took a break during the games to focus on herself. In 2024, she added to her Olympic resume by becoming the first gymnast to win gold in the All-around multiple times.
Coco Gauff is only 20 years old and is already making waves in professional tennis. She won the 2023 US Open and has cemented herself as one of the faces of Women’s professional Tennis. Although her time in the Paris Olympics is finished, she’s still among the best in the world.
Jordan Chiles is a rising star in gymnastics. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she took home her first gold medal in the Women’s Artistic Team All-around competition along with Biles and other talented gymnasts.
Lauren Scruggs made history at the 2024 Olympics, becoming the first African-American Woman to win an individual medal in fencing at the Summer Games.
Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone is among the fastest track and field stars in the world. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she won two gold medals, one in the 400-meter hurdles and another in the 4x400-meter relay. She’s looking to defend those gold medals in Paris.
A’Ja Wilson has succeeded on every level of her basketball career. She was the number one ranked player coming out of high school. While at South Carolina, she was a national champion, NCAA tournament MOP, national player of the year and a three-time first-team All-American. In 2018, she was drafted first overall in the WNBA draft and has since been a two-time WNBA champion, two-time MVP, a five-time all-star, a two-time defensive player of the year and rookie of the year. She’s looking to add to her resume by helping the Women’s USA Basketball Team bring home a gold medal in Paris this summer.
Despite her controversial past, Sha’Carri Richardson has persevered to become one of the best track athletes in the world. In August 2023, she won the 100m at the World Track and Field Championships in 10.65 seconds—a championship record time. After missing out on the Olympics in 2020, she’s looking to redeem herself in Paris.
Gabby Thomas is already an accomplished American sprinter. But at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she’s looking to take home her first gold medal. At the Tokyo Olympics, she won bronze in the 200-meter sprint and silver in the 4 x 100-meter relay.
Tara Davis-Woodhall is a young American star in the track and field world who is looking to leave her mark in Paris. Unable to medal at the Tokyo Summer Olympics, Davis-Woodhall is looking to change that in 2024.
Before Thompson-Herah set the Olympic record in the women’s 100 meters, fellow Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce ran the fastest time in nearly 33 years: 10.63 during an event in June 2021. She’s looking to compete with Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100 meters at the 2024 Olympics.
Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade is one of the many Black women in gymnastics who have shined at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She took home the Silver medal in the individual all-around.
As a freshman, Juju Watkins is already one of the most exciting players in college basketball (men or women). She was second in the entire country in scoring, averaging 27 points per game, and helped the University of Southern California earn a record of 26-5. She led her team to the Elite 8.
As a WNBA player, Angel Reese is still dominating. She’s had one of the better rookie seasons in recent memory and has made the Chicago Sky must-watch television for any hoops fan.
I know some of us don’t pay attention to the Winter Olympics, but you might want to start to watch bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor do her thing. During the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Taylor became the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history after taking home her fifth medal.
Along with being a brilliant athlete, Erin Jackson also has a degree in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Florida. At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the talented speed skater won gold in the 500 meter.
