- Several athletes will not compete due to injuries. Main photo: Olympic Games.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games begin on July 26 and will bring together the world’s best athletes in every discipline. However, this year, renowned athletes will not be able to participate due to various difficulties, such as injuries, accidents or poor results in qualifying rounds.
From Venezuelan champion Yulimar Rojas to American basketball player Kawhi Leonard and the Brazilian soccer team, a good number of sports stars will miss the Paris Olympics.
These are the main absentees from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
–Yulimar Rojas (Triple Jump, Venezuela)
The reigning Olympic champion, world record holder and four-time world champion suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in April, which will prevent her from defending her title in Paris.
The absence of Rojas, 28, leaves a significant void in the women’s triple jump, where she was the main favourite for gold.
-Daniel Dhers (BMX, Venezuela)
The Venezuelan did not qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after finishing 13th in the BMX (Bicycle Motocross) Freestyle competition phase, which was held in Budapest (Hungary) on June 21.
Dhers scored 76.27 points in his last test.
–Elaine Thompson-Herah (Atletismo, Jamaica)
The 32-year-old Jamaican sprinter will not compete at Paris 2024 following an Achilles tendon injury in June.
Thompson is also a four-time gold medal winner in the 100m and 200m at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
–Oksana Chusovitina (Gymnastics, Uzbekistan)
The legendary Uzbek gymnast will not be able to compete in her ninth Games due to an injury sustained during the Asian Gymnastics Championships in April.
This was a hard blow for the athlete, who hoped to say goodbye to the Olympic Games with a historic record.
Chusovitina, 49, is one of the oldest and most decorated gymnasts in history.
-Kelvin Kiptum (Athletics, Kenya)
The Kenyan long-distance runner, world marathon record holder, died in a car accident in February, aged 24.
Kiptum was one of the great promises of world athletics and his premature death shocked the world of sport.
-Brazilian men’s soccer team
The team failed to qualify for Paris 2024 after losing to Argentina in the South American pre-Olympic tournament, which was held in Venezuela between January 20 and February 11.
This defeat thwarted the team’s dream of winning a third consecutive gold medal at the Olympic Games.
–Argentine men’s basketball team
The Albiceleste will also miss the Olympic Games after failing to qualify in the continental pre-Olympic tournament. Players such as Campazzo, Laprovittola, Deck and Vildoza will miss the Parisian event.
This is the first time that Argentina, Olympic runner-up in 2004, will not be present at the Olympics since Los Angeles 1984.
–Katie Archibald (Track Cycling, UK)
The two-time Olympic champion will also miss the Paris event due to injuries sustained in a fall at home in June.
Archibald, 30, will not be able to defend the medals she won at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
-Kawhi Leonard (Basketball, United States)
Leonard, a two-time NBA champion and one of the many stars of the Dream Team, withdrew from the Olympics due to various physical problems.
Another star of the team, Kevin Durant -also a two-time NBA champion-, has problems with his calf (a muscle in the back of the leg) and has missed several preparation games, although for now he remains in the American training camp.
–Kylian Mbappé (football, France)
Despite having expressed his desire to compete in the Olympic Games in his hometown for years, the French footballer will not be taking part following a decision by his new club, Real Madrid, after having competed in the recent European Championship in Germany.
-Bruno Fratus (Swimming, Brazil)
Bronze medallist in the 50-metre freestyle at the 2020 Tokyo Games and multiple world championship trophies winner, she will not be in Paris due to a series of physical problems.
In February, the swimmer underwent knee surgery.
–Tadej Pogacar (Cycling, Slovenia)
Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar, who won the Tour de France for the third time on July 21 with six stage victories, has withdrawn from the 2024 Paris Games to rest, the Slovenian Olympic Committee announced on July 22.
With information from EFE.
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2024-07-24 00:38:02
