Olympics 2025: The Athletes to Watch
Tarek Nassar
From sprint lanes to the climbing wall, these are the competitors our sports desk expects to make headlines this season.
Every Olympic cycle produces a handful of names that nobody outside their sport knew a year earlier. This season is no different: a teenage sprinter who has already broken two national records, a veteran swimmer chasing a fourth consecutive final and a climbing team that has quietly dominated the qualifying circuit.
Who is in form
Our sports desk looked at results from the last eighteen months, not just the highlight reels. Consistency matters more than one fast time, and the athletes on our list have delivered podium finishes in at least three major events.
What could change the picture
Injuries, new rule changes in gymnastics scoring and the travel schedule will all play a part. We will update this list as the trials conclude, so check back before the opening ceremony.