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For the primary time since 2004, the face of Staff USA on the Olympics is not going to be Michael Phelps, who retired from swimming in 2016.
Why it issues: With probably the most embellished Olympian of all time not anchoring protection and driving consideration, a brand new crop of American stars will emerge in Tokyo.
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Usain Bolt — the Jamaican monitor star who drew world curiosity through the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Video games — can be retired now, leaving a void practically the scale of Phelps.
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Serena Williams (skipped) and Sha’Carri Richardson (suspended) had been anticipated to be two of the most-watched Individuals in Tokyo, so their absences open the door even wider for different names to seize the highlight.
Who to look at: If anybody has already changed Phelps because the face of Staff USA, it is gymnastics G.O.A.T. Simone Biles. Three different members of Staff USA who might see their fame skyrocket in Tokyo:
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Katie Ledecky, swimming: The defending gold medalist within the 200-, 400- and 800-meter freestyle is even higher within the 1,500, which makes its Olympics debut on the ladies’s facet.
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Noah Lyles, monitor and subject: The Alexandria, Virginia native is the favourite to win gold within the 200 meters after recording the world’s quickest time this season (19.74 seconds).
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Caeleb Dressel, swimming: The 24-year-old is favored in every of his three particular person occasions. Add in 4 relays and he is obtained a shot at seven gold medals, which might tie Mark Spitz for second-most in a single Olympics (behind Phelps’ eight).
What they’re saying: NBC Olympics govt producer and president Molly Solomon previewed the community’s protection plans in a briefing with the press. The primary week might be an introduction of types, focusing closely on the names listed above, plus a number of extra stars poised to interrupt out.
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NBC then plans to broadcast an unprecedented 7,000 hours of protection, together with greater than 5,500 hours of on-line streaming.
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Gone are the times when Olympic superstardom required a prime-time broadcast. Now, legends will be born in nearly any occasion, and social media will play a much bigger position than ever in deciding who and what goes viral.
The underside line: There might by no means be one other Michael Phelps, who starred in Athens, Beijing, London and Rio de Janiero. However there might be one other face of Staff USA — and that athlete, or athletes, will take up that mantle over the following two weeks in Tokyo.
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