UNSCRIPTED: OLYMPIC 2024 NEWS!
Unscripted By Keith Edmonds
FWIS Contributing Writer
The Olympic Games are considered the world's foremost sports competition with more than 200 teams, representing sovereign states and territories, participating. The Games substitute for any world championships during the year in which they take place and allows athletes to come together in one central location to participate in 26 different athletic events in the course of about 2 weeks to determine which athletes or teams are considered the “Worlds Best!” Athletes and teams have been training for the past 4 years to get themselves ready to compete, and there were storylines and compelling arguments that have occurred during these games. In today’s UNSCRIPTED, I will take a look at the 2024 Olympics being held in beautiful Paris, France. There’s so much to talk about that I can’t possibly get to everything, and by the time this is read by you the Games will be over, but I’m going to go out on a limb and give you some predictions on what I think will happen (or what happened) during the Games. So, let’s get started on my predictions!
Men’s Basketball: Now here’s the most obvious place to start as the United States Men’s team is LOADED with stars from the NBA. LeBron James, Kevin Durrant, and Steph Curry will lead us to Gold without much of a challenge even though Spain and Slovenia are out there waiting....
Women’s Gymnastics: The US team led by Simone Biles and Suni Lee will win the TEAM Gold and Biles will win the All-Around Gold simply because they are the most dominant players in the world! I also like Jordan Chiles to medal in the floor exercise and Suni Lee to medal in the beam. Keep an eye out on 16-year-old Hezly Rivera who’s competing in her FIRST Olympics and though I don’t think she’ll medal, what a wonderful experience for her!
Men’s Gymnastics: This team doesn’t get nearly the recognition as the women, but I like them simply because they work hard and may slip up on a few teams in the tournament! I really like Fred Richard from the University of Michigan. He looks strong and yes; I like seeing OUR folks in competitions that don’t involve the “traditional sports!” Go win a medal big fella! Shh.... I cheated, they just won the bronze last night in the TEAM competition! USA! USA!
MEN’S & WOMEN’S SWIMMING: The United States teams usually do well in the Olympics for swim and are expected to do well again this summer! To me, the most interesting storyline is Katie Ledecky who’s competing in her 4th Olympics and after winning 10 Olympic medals beginning at the age of 15 is now one of the oldest competitors at the age of 27! On the Men’s side, while there is no Michael Phelps to boost our team, we have some great swimmers in Caleb Dressel and Luke Finke to carry the load. Germany and Australia can be tough on us in swimming!
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Aja Wilson, Diana Taurasi, and Brittany Griner lead this team to Gold and NO game will be close... PERIOD! I’ll bet my InkSpot salary on this! (lol) They’ve won 7 Olympic Golds in a row and number 8 will be clinched by the time this goes to press. China is out there but anyway...
TRACK & FIELD: I love watching our athletes compete in these events! I predict that Sha ‘Carri Richardson will win the Women’s 100 meters and anchor the 4X100 meter to Gold. Noah Lyles will win the Men’s 100-meter Gold and the US 4X100 team will win silver by getting upset by Jamaica for the Gold.
WOMEN’S TENNIS: Coco Gauff will Medal
BOXING: Roscoe Hill will win the Bronze Medal.
MENS GOLF: Scottie Scheffler will win the Silver Medal
WOMENS GOLF: Nelly Korda will win the Silver Medal
WEIGHTLIFTING: Olivia Reeves will Medal
INTERESTING STORYLINES TO WATCH:
1. Can Noah Lyles win double gold? 100- & 200-Meters track and field.
2. Big expectations for Sha'Carri Richardson's Olympic debut. (Remember she missed the 2020 Olympic Games after a positive marijuana test.)
3. Simone Biles returns after pulling out of the 2020 Olympics due to mental health concerns. How will she do coming back?
4. Can Katie Ledecky win 10 total Olympic Golds? She now has 7 and is entered in 4 events in Paris.
5. Can the US Men’s Soccer team return to national prominence after looking very average in recent years?
6. Will the US and Brazil meet in the gold medal game in pairs volleyball? (They are the world’s 2 best teams.)
7. Can the US wrestling team win a medal this year? They are exceptionally good but are they good enough?
8. Break Dancing is now an Olympic sport. But for how long?
9. Which country, US or China who will win more TOTAL medals?
10. Was adding Snoop Dogg to Primetime a clever idea?
11. Is Mike Tirico the best person to host the evening portion of Olympic coverage?
12. Which parent or support system will we leave these games talking about the most?
Let the Games begin!!