Waves of excitement await you at the Paris Olympics 2024! Water sports are always a hit with the crowd and this year… it looks like it will be no different. Many have already booked their tickets or memorized the TV schedules to witness the best water sport athletes from around the world compete in the games. Everyone knows that these athletes have trained for years to reach their peak performance. Now, it’s their time to shine.
Watch the Olympics to get an adrenaline rush from a close race or mesmerized by the beauty of synchronized routines. Scroll to see who to watch and when to tune in for water sports at the Paris Olympics 2024!
Top Water Sports Athletes at Paris Olympics 2024
Bill May, Artistic Swimming (Team USA)
Bill May has over 20 years of experience plus a world championship win under his belt from 2015! Those two facts alone make him one of the most anticipated water sports athletes in the Paris Olympics 2024. To make things even more exciting, this is the first year that men are allowed to compete in artistic swimming. Combining May’s history plus this historic first, everyone is holding their breath.
Katie Ledecky, Swimming (Team USA)
She’s been making headlines since her Olympic debut at 15. As every year passes, she just keeps getting better and better. She’s Katie Ledecky, a dominant force in freestyle swimming. With 7 gold Olympic medals, she continues to put emphasis on the joy the sport brings her. Passionate and amazing!
Alex Bowen, Water Polo (Team USA)
Here’s a name that might be familiar to you: Alex Bowen. He’s a top goal scorer with 18 points in the Tokyo Games. His precision and skill have been greatly instrumental for his national squad, making him one of the most anticipated athletes in the water polo Olympics 2024.
Dusan Mandic, Water Polo (Team Serbia)
Serbian water polo player Dusan Mandic has been a fierce competitor in past Olympics. In fact, he has two gold medals and one bronze. Known for his exceptional play style, Mandic will be leading his team to go for gold in Paris.
Quan Hongcha, Diving (Team China)
Springboard diving talent Quan Hongchan was only 14 when she got perfect 10s plus a gold medal in 2021. With such raw talent at a young age, it’s no surprise that many cameras (and eyes) will be on her this July.
Water Sports Paris Olympics 2024 Schedule
In this section, we break down the schedule and venues of the water sports you’ll see at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Swimming
Venue: Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre City
Schedule: July 27 to August 4
Swimming is one of the oldest sports in the Olympics, starting way back in 1896. Swimmers race each other in pools, competing in different styles like freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. Some races go in super-fast sprints, while others go longer to test endurance. Legends like Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky have made this sport incredibly popular.
Diving
Venue: Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis City, Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre City
Schedule: July 27 to August 10
Diving has been in the Olympics since 1904. Divers jump off platforms or springboards and perform flips and twists before hitting the water. It’s all about precision and elegance. Famous divers like Greg Louganis and Guo Jingjing have made big names for themselves in this sport.
Artistic Swimming
Venue: Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis City
Schedule: August 5 to 10
Artistic swimming used to be called “synchronized swimming”, so you might be familiar with it! It started in the Olympics in 1984. Think of it as dancing in the water! Swimmers perform choreographed routines to music, showing off their strength and flexibility. It’s a beautiful mix of swimming, dance, and gymnastics.
Marathon Swimming
Venue: Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis City
Schedule: August 8 to 9
Open water swimming is like swimming in the wild! Added to the Olympics in 2008, these races happen in lakes, rivers, or the ocean. The 10km marathon swim is really tough and exciting, with swimmers often finishing neck and neck.
Water Polo
Venue: Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis City
Schedule: July 27 to August 11
Water polo is a fast and intense sport that’s been in the Olympics since 1900 for men and 2000 for women. It’s like soccer in the water, where teams try to score goals while swimming and defending their own net. It’s really exciting and physically demanding.
Enjoy the Paris Olympics 2024!
Whether you are an avid follower of Paris Olympic 2024 water sports or you are simply “testing the waters”, these athletes will leave you awestruck with their skills and hard work.
Therefore, get your popcorn ready, set your alarms, and prepare for the best. You will not want to switch off your TV set at any one time when the aquatic action is on.
