The Youngest Athletes at the Paris Olympics
Age is just a number when it comes to the Olympics. The Olympic Games are known for having some of the youngest athletes in the world competing, and this year’s Paris Olympics are no exception.
The youngest athlete who will be taking part in the Olympics is China’s Zheng Haohao, an 11-year-old (!!!) skateboarder. With skateboarding as her passion since a tender age, she has honed her skills to perfection. Now, she is all set to create history as China's youngest representative at the Olympics in Paris.
Guangdong News
The youngest competitor representing Team USA in the upcoming competitions will be 16-year-old gymnast Hezly Rivera. She is a promising talent and will join the accomplished female gymnastics team, which includes renowned athletes such as Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Jade Carey. Together, they are determined to strive for the gold medal after achieving a remarkable silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Kyle Okita- AP Photo
In addition to Hezly, Team USA is proud to have 16-year-old Quincy Wilson on the track and field team and 17-year-old Minna Stess showcasing her skills in the skateboarding squad. The swimming team will also feature the talents of two 17-year-olds, Alex Shackell and Thomas Heilman, who will compete with great determination to bring glory to the USA.
In 2021, Sky Brown became Great Britain’s youngest Olympic medallist when she won park bronze in skateboarding at 13. She is now 15 and will participate in her second Olympics this month.
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Another one to watch is the Chinese diver Quan Hongchan, who is now 17. It is also her second Games, and when she was 14, she won the women’s 10m platform in Tokyo. Along with winning gold, she set a world record and earned perfect scores from all the judges in two of her five dives.
17-year-old Summer McIntosh is representing Canada in swimming for the second time and has already broken records. She holds the world record in the 400m individual medley and, in February, ended Olympic champion Katie Ledecky’s unbeaten streak in the 800m freestyle.
IOC
It is genuinely impressive to see athletes who are so accomplished at such a young age. The fact that there is no age limit to compete in the Olympics and it is purely based on achievements makes the Games that much more special and allows remarkable athletes to excel, such as these highlighted ones.