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Paris 2024 Olympics: 12 Youth Olympic games graduates set to shine on the big stage

Picture by 2024 Getty Images

Many of the athletes who are set to star at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 began their Olympic journeys at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) .

The Youth Olympic Games have been the perfect springboard for athletes looking to launch their Olympic careers.

The likes of Chad le Clos , Jessica Fox , Carolina Marín and Napheesa Collier are among those to have topped the Olympic podium after competing at the YOG.

In Paris, reigning 100m and 200m world champion Noah Lyles and five-time tennis grand slam winner Iga Świątek are among those looking to follow in their footsteps by capturing Olympic gold this summer.

Here, we highlight 12 more YOG graduates who will be aiming to make their mark on the Olympic stage at Paris 2024, including a women's 100m contender and breaking star.

• Where to watch Paris 2024 Olympic Games live
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Julien Alfred

Sprinter Julien Alfred made history earlier this year when her victory in the 60m secured Saint Lucia's first ever World Athletics Indoor Championship medal.

Having won silver in the 100m at the YOG Buenos Aires 2018, the 23-year-old will now look to challenge Sha'Carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson for top spot on the Olympic podium in Paris.

And, having clocked a new lifetime best of 10.78 seconds in June , she is coming into form at just the right time to make more history by becoming the first athlete to win an Olympic medal for Saint Lucia.

“I’d love to be the first,” she says. “I definitely want a medal in Paris – a gold, silver or bronze in the 100m and 200m.”

France's Sam Avezou won the men's sport climbing boulder & lead event at the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest in June, securing his place at Paris 2024 in the process.

And the 23-year-old – who won bronze at the YOG Buenos Aires 2018 – is now looking forward to competing for an Olympic medal on home soil.

"It’s amazing,” he said after clinching qualification in Budapest. “I can’t wait for the last month of training and the Paris Olympics. It’s going to be very nice."

Sam Avezou of France competes in the Sport Climbing Lead Men's Final

Kagami Yuka

Wrestler Kagami Yuka was Japan’s flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony of the YOG Buenos Aires 2018 and went on to win a bronze medal in the Argentine capital.

She clinched gold at the Asian Championships the following year before winning bronze at the 2022 World Championships.

The best was yet to come, however, as she starred at the 2023 World Championships , defeating six-time world champion Adeline Gray 4-1 in the quarter-finals before beating 2018 YOG gold medallist Milaimys Marín in the semi-finals.

Kagami then dominated Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy 8-0 in the final to claim her first world title and secure qualification for her Olympic debut at Paris 2024.

Wang Chuqin

Table tennis star Wang Chuqin was tipped for the top ever since he won two gold medals – in singles and the mixed team event – at the YOG Buenos Aires 2018.

While he was only selected as an alternate for the Chinese team for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Wang will now head to Paris as the world number one, having dethroned compatriot and fellow YOG gold medallist Fan Zhendong in July 2023, and is eager to make the most of his Olympic debut.

“You may only have the experience of the Olympics once in your life, so I really want to do my best and go all out to play well,” he says. “It's the most important event in all sports, so I'll try my best to keep a positive and optimistic mind during the training and preparation.”

Elina Tzengko

At the age of just 21, Greek javelin thrower Elina Tzengko has already built up quite an impressive medal collection. After topping the podium at the YOG Buenos Aires 2018, she won gold at the 2021 European Under-20 Championships in Tallinn, and silver at the 2021 World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi.

The following year in Munich, the then 19-year-old became the youngest ever athlete to win a European javelin title , as she won gold with a personal best of 65.81 metres at the 2022 European Championships .

As well as being the youngest javelin thrower – male or female – to win the European title, Tzengko also became the first teenager to win a European title in a throwing event, and the youngest ever Greek European champion.

Gold medal winner Elina Tzengko of Greece, poses with flag after Women's Javelin Throw during European Athletics U23 Championships

Kunlavut Vitidsarn

A three-time world junior champion, Thai badminton star Kunlavut Vitidsarn suffered a shock loss in the quarter finals of the men’s singles at the YOG Buenos Aires 2018 before winning silver in the mixed team event.

Since then, his career has gone from strength to strength, with Vitidsarn becoming the first Thai player to win the men’s singles world title when he beat fellow YOG graduate Naraoka Kodai in the final of the 2023 BWF World Championships.

“It’s my first Olympics, I’m massively excited,” he says. “Going into Paris as the world champion comes with a lot of pressure but that’s also a good thing. It means people are watching me. I’ve used the qualification period to continue to grow my game and learn. [But] there’s always [more] space to grow.”

Mahina Paul

Mahina Paul is sure to have fond memories of the YOG Buenos Aires 2018, having scored the gold medal-winning try for New Zealand as they triumphed 15-12 over France in the women’s rugby sevens final.

Paul went on to make her debut for the senior national rugby sevens team – known as the Black Ferns – the following year but missed out on a place in the squad for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, as she was named a non-travelling reserve.

The 23-year-old has since firmly established herself in the Black Ferns team and scored two tries as they won the Hong Kong Sevens title in April with a 36-7 victory over the USA – one of four titles they clinched on this year’s World Rugby SVNS circuit.

She also scored in the third-place playoff of the Grand Final in Madrid, as New Zealand secured a 26-14 win over Canada in the season-ending event, and will now be part of the Black Ferns team aiming to retain the Olympic title they won in Tokyo.

Mahina Paul playing for Bay of Plenty

Jordan Díaz

Triple jumper Jordan Díaz produced one of the most eye-catching performances at the YOG Buenos Aires 2018, with the then world under-18 and under-20 champion leaping 17.14m and 17.04m to secure a comfortable victory in the men’s event.

While he represented Cuba at the YOG, the 23-year-old has since acquired Spanish citizenship and competed for his newly-adopted nation at this year’s European Championship, leaping to a championship record 18.18m – the third best jump of all time, behind only the legendary Jonathan Edwards (18.29m) and Christian Taylor (18.21m). Díaz will now look to emulate both Edwards and Taylor by clinching Olympic gold in Paris.

Hailey van Lith

Rising basketball star Hailey van Lith has been a serial winner in her burgeoning career so far. The 22-year-old was part of the US 3x3 team that won gold at the YOG Buenos Aires 2018 just months after triumphing at the FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Belarus.

Following those victories, she went on to help the US win the FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Cup and the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in 2019 before stepping up to the senior 3x3 national team in 2022.

The following year, she clinched her first senior international medal by winning gold at the 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup, where she led the US team in scoring with 44 points and was also named as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Now, she will be hoping to continue that impressive winning streak in Paris, where the US will be looking to defend the 3x3 Olympic title they won in Tokyo.

Nicolai Højgaard

Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard continues to build an impressive resume in the professional golf ranks, clinching the biggest victory of his career at last year’s DP World Tour Championship, as he sunk five straight birdies down the stretch to win the season-ending event by two strokes.

That victory came just two months after the Dane had been part of the European team that regained the Ryder Cup with a convincing 16.5-11.5 win over the USA in Italy, while the 23-year-old has also been making waves on this year’s PGA Tour, finishing second at January’s San Diego Open before finishing tied-16th in his Masters debut in April.

Højgaard’s twin brother, Rasmus, qualified for Danish team at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, but it will be Nicolai who gets his shot at Olympic glory in Paris, six years after he competed at the YOG Buenos Aires 2018.

Breaking may be making its first appearance at the Olympic Games , but Japan’s Shigekix will still have some Olympic experiences to draw on when he vies for gold in Paris.

The Osaka native was among the B-boys and B-girls who made history at the YOG Buenos Aires 2018 – when breaking was first contested at an Olympic event – and he is sure to take confidence from his bronze medal-winning performances in the Argentine capital.

Since competing in the YOG, Shigekix became the youngest ever winner of the One World Final in 2020 and finishing third at the IWGA World Games in 2022. The 22-year-old also clinched gold at the 2022 Asian Games, securing his place at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Shigekix of Japan competes in the Men's Pre-Selection Breaking event during the 2022 Asian Games

Fatima-Ezzahra Aboufaras

Morocco’s Fatima-Ezzahra Aboufaras excelled in the women’s 63kg taekwondo event at the YOG Buenos Aires 2018.

The then 16-year-old dominated Poland’s Marcelina Marta Koszel 20-4 to progress to the last four, in which she defeated China’s Wenzhe Mu by another comfortable 17-2 margin. She had to work harder in the final, eventually overcoming Iran’s Kimia Hemati as she edged a thrilling encounter 18-16 to take the Youth Olympic title.

Since then, she has won back-to-back gold medals at the 2019 and 2023 African Games , while she secured her place at Paris 2024 with another impressive performance at the African Qualification Tournament, which was held in Dakar, Senegal, in February.

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FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2024 Schedule Announced: A Grand Showdown in Vienna

The best of Europe will take to the court in Vienna for the ninth edition of the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2024 from August 22-25. The continent's elite players in both the Men's and Women's categories will compete fiercely, each team eyeing to bring home the Cup.

On the men's side, Serbia has dominated the tournament's history, boasting five consecutive wins. Their historic run sets a high bar, but this season's competition promises to be more challenging than ever. Teams across Europe are preparing to bring their best game, all aiming to dethrone the Serbian giants and make their mark on the 3x3 scene.

The women's competition is equally thrilling. The Dutch team emerged victorious last year, showcasing their prowess amidst a deeply talented field. With the last three editions each crowning different champions, the race for gold is as unpredictable as it gets. Fans can expect intense matchups and exceptional displays of skill as teams vie for the top spot.

Demonstrating inclusivity and collaboration, the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) will also hold games during the Europe Cup. As the first official IWBF European Championship ever will be part of our event, FIBA will set new standards in terms of inclusion in sports competition. This addition highlights the event's commitment to showcasing diverse talents and providing a platform for all athletes to shine.

The FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2024 keeps the 3x3 basketball season in full swing, following closely on the heels of the Paris 2024 Olympics. The event promises not only high-level competition but also an electric atmosphere as fans from around the world gather to witness the best of European 3x3 basketball.

Mark your calendars for August 22-25 and join us in Vienna for the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2024, where the battle for European basketball supremacy will unfold in an unforgettable spectacle.

Exciting, urban and innovative, 3x3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the most thrilling urban sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court. 3x3 made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

For further information about 3x3, visit  fiba3x3.basketball , FIBA 3x3 accounts on  Facebook ,  Instagram ,  Sina Weibo ,  Tencent ,  TikTok ,  Twitter ,  Youku ,  YouTube  or contact  [email protected] .  

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