LA 2028: 5 US athletes may be sensational

Here are five U.S. athletes poised to shine at the LA 2028 Olympic Games, featuring young stars and Paris 2024 breakout performers:

• Quincy Wilson (Track & Field): At only 16, he became the youngest American male track Olympian in Paris 2024, helping secure gold in the 4x400m relay, marking him as a future individual sprint star.
• Amit Elor (Wrestling): At 20, she dominated the field in Paris to win gold, proving herself a young powerhouse likely to return for another medal.
• Olivia Reeves (Weightlifting): As a 20-year-old in 2024, she ended a 24-year U.S. gold medal drought in weightlifting, positioning herself as a dominant force for LA.
• Trinity Rodman (Soccer): A standout performer in Paris 2024, the 22-year-old forward is crucial to the USWNT’s future and will be in her prime in 2028.
• Fred Richard (Gymnastics): At 20, he is a leading figure in the resurgence of U.S. men’s gymnastics and a strong contender for individual medals in 2028

1. Quincy Wilson–Star to watch at LA 2028

Quincy Wilson, the youngest male track Olympian in U.S. history and 2024 Olympic 4x400m gold medalist, is a prime breakout candidate for the LA 2028 Games. At only 16, he broke the U18 400m world record, demonstrating immense potential to be a dominant force at his home Olympics by age 20. 

Key Factors for LA 2028 Potential

• Historic Pedigree: Already a seasoned, high-level performer, winning gold in Paris and becoming a household name after the 2024 Olympic Trials.
• Record-Setting Performance: He has set personal bests in the 400m (44.10s) and 200m (21.02s), indicating elite speed and versatility.
• Development Pathway: He committed to the University of Maryland and is focused on consistent, long-term development (keeping his focus on training and education).
• Long-Term Goal: Wilson is “hungry to break more records and compete in the Olympics once again in 2028,” aiming to move from a relay runner to a top individual medal contender. 

Early Life and Background

• Origin: Born in Chesapeake, Virginia, he later moved to Potomac, Maryland, to attend the prestigious Bullis School, known for its strong athletic program.
• Athletic Start: Began running at age 7 or 8. Initially started as a way to burn energy and stay active, he quickly realized his talent, aiming for the Olympics after losing a Junior Olympic race by 0.1 seconds at age 7.
• Family: Comes from an athletic family. His parents, Monique and Roy Wilson, supported his athletic journey, and he has an older sister, Kadence.
• Multi-sport athlete: Before focusing on track, he was a talented football player, often missing the sport even after achieving success on the track. 

Struggles and Challenges

• The “5-to-9” Grind: Wilson followed a strict, demanding schedule involving 5 a.m. wake-ups for training, school, and recovery, which he described as a “5-to-9” rather than a 9-to-5.
• Physical Limitations: As a 16-year-old competing against grown men, he was often shorter and physically less developed than his rivals, requiring him to rely on mental toughness and unconventional form.
• Overcoming Setbacks: Despite his success, he faced challenges, including having to overcome not being 100% healthy during some competitions and handling the pressure of becoming a national name at a young age.
• Balancing Act: He often balanced the life of a typical teenager—needing to do homework and get a driver’s license—with the pressures of being an Olympian. 

LA 2028 may be pivotal for a lot of athletes, among them Quincy Wilson, a US Track and Field star who can shine after a couple of years.

Where the US Track and Field team was not performing well at the Paris Olympics, it can bounce back at LA 2028. Wilson may be a key Factor for that.

https://www.olympics.com/en/news/quincy-wilson-dream-comes-true-historic-olympic-debut-paris-2024

2. Amit Elor–Wrestler aiming to shine at LA 2028

Wrestling is Major sports for the USA. US freestyle Wrestler. A lot of US wrestlers are waiting for LA 2028 for a momentous performance.

Amit Elor (born January 1, 2004) is a dominant American freestyle wrestler who became the youngest American wrestler to win an Olympic gold medal, achieving this at age 20 at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 68 kg division. She is a prodigy with multiple world titles across U17, U20, U23, and Senior levels

Key Achievements & Highlights:

• 2024 Olympic Champion: Won gold in women’s freestyle 68 kg in Paris.
• Youngest U.S. Champion: Became the youngest American to win a Senior World Championship at 18 in 2022.
• Unprecedented Dominance: Only wrestler in history to win Senior, U23, and U20 World titles in the same year, achieving this feat in both 2022 and 2023.
• Record: Entered the 2024 Olympics with an incredible 42-1 record since 2019, having outscored opponents 375-19.
• Background: An Israeli-American, she has spoken about dealing with online antisemitism and family tragedy, which fueled her motivation. Elor has consistently trained in California and is recognized for her incredible mental focus and technical ability, with many calling her one of the greatest young wrestlers in history. 

Elor’s training for LA 2028 focuses on maintaining her dominance as a 2024 Olympic gold medalist, incorporating “play wrestling” (light sparring) for creativity and reduced wear-and-tear. She is training through her pregnancy and motherhood journey, aiming to return stronger for 2028, while continuing to refine her technique in [Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu]

Key Aspects of Her Training & Preparation targeting LA 2028

• Motherhood Integration: Elor has openly embraced continuing her training for LA 2028 while pregnant and after becoming a mother, describing it as a “new challenge” and planning to bring her baby on the journey.
• “Play Wrestling” Technique: Elor uses light sparring, or “play wrestling,” to experiment with techniques, allowing her to stay creative on the mat while minimizing physical stress.
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Integration: She trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to add versatility to her skill set, facilitated by experts like [Cesar Gracie].
• Mental & Physical Rigor: Following her 2024 Olympic gold at age 20 (youngest U.S. wrestler to do so), her preparation involves intense focus on maintaining her 38-1 record and evolving her approach to meet challenges at the 68kg/72kg level.
• Partnership Support: She partners with [Dollamur] to facilitate her training and support her continued development. 

3. Olivia Reeves (Weightlifting)

Olivia Reeves has an exceptionally high chance of winning gold at the LA 2028 Olympics, cementing her status as a premier contender by following her 2024 Olympic gold with a 2024 World Title and setting new, high-standard records. As of 2025, she has set new world records (123kg snatch, 155kg clean & jerk, 278kg total) and is considered the future of U.S. women’s weightlifting, potentially peaking at home. 

Key Factors for LA 2028

• Dominant Performance: Reeves won the 2024 Paris Olympic gold with a total lift of 262kg and consistently improved, including winning the 2024 World Championship and setting world records, putting her ahead of or equal with elite Chinese and North Korean competitors.
• Youth and Momentum: At only 21-22 years old during the 2024 season, she is young for a weightlifter, allowing room for further growth and physical maturity by the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
• Mental Toughness & Training: She is recognized for her calm approach under pressure, often winning with multiple attempts to spare, such as at the World Championships in Bahrain.
• Home Field Advantage: Competing in Los Angeles in 2028 will likely provide a significant boost in her pursuit of a second consecutive Olympic gold. 

Key Aspects of Olivia Reeves’ Journey:

• Mental & Physical Struggles: Her journey, highlighted in Becoming Olivia Reeves, focuses on her journey to becoming an Olympic champion despite the immense mental and physical pressure involved.
• Overcoming Pressure: Often lauded for her consistency, she has faced the pressure of expectations to succeed at world-level events.
• Near-Missed Milestones: Despite winning the 2024 Olympic gold, she experienced disappointment in missing a 150kg clean and jerk, a weight she had successfully lifted previously, which became a motivator to improve.
• Continuous Improvement: She has consistently worked on elevating her performance, such as turning her focus towards breaking world records.

Her journey is notable to weightlifting supporters from all over the world. Her achievement may be crucial to breaking Asian momentum at LA 2028

4. Trinity Rodman–May be crucial to maintain the US dominance

Trinity Rodman is a US soccer player whose performance may be crucial at LA 2028 to clinch the Gold Medal. The USA female team has always won a gold medal in the Olympics except for three times, when it was introduced in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996

Here are the past results that may help predict the result of LA 2028

https://www.olympics.com/en/news/olympic-football-winners-list-men-women-gold-medals-champions

Trinity Rodman and the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) are highly capable of winning gold at the LA 2028 Olympics. They recently won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics and established themselves as top contenders under coach Emma Hayes, anchored by a young, dominant forward trio including Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson

Why They Can Win Gold at LA 2028:

• Dominant Core: Trinity Rodman, a key star in the 2024 victory, is part of a young core that thrives under high pressure.
• Recent Success: The team won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup.
• Experience & Coaching: Under Emma Hayes, the team has reclaimed its status as a global powerhouse, blending veteran leadership with young talent.
• Home Advantage: The USWNT will have the advantage of playing on home soil, a factor that traditionally boosts American teams. 

Trinity Rodman, daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman, rapidly ascended to the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) through stellar youth team performances, becoming the youngest player drafted in NWSL history at age 18. Debuting for the senior team in 2022, she quickly became a crucial forward, winning a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Key Journey Highlights:

• Youth Success: Rodman represented the USYNT at the U-17 and U-20 levels, contributing to the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship win.
• Historic NWSL Debut: After her freshman year at Washington State was cancelled due to COVID-19, she was selected second overall in the 2021 NWSL Draft by the Washington Spirit.
• Rookie Record: In her 2021 professional debut, she scored five minutes after entering the game, ultimately being named Rookie of the Year.
• USWNT Breakthrough: Following a 2021 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year award, she debuted for the senior national team on February 17, 2022, in a SheBelieves Cup match against the Czech Republic.
• Key Moments: She became the youngest USWNT player to score two goals in one game (“bag a brace”) in July 2023, and scored four goals and one assist at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

ALL of her past performances suggest that she may shine at LA 2028

5. Fred Richard–Male US Gymnast to watch at LA 2028

Fred Richard is one of the major US stars to watch at LA 2028. Frederick “Fred” Richard (born April 23, 2004) is a prominent American artistic gymnast and a 2024 Olympic bronze medalist known for bringing global attention to men’s gymnastics. A standout at the University of Michigan, he is a multiple-time NCAA champion, a World Championship medalist, and a social media influencer (“FrederickFlips”) aimed at popularizing the sport. 

Key Achievements & Highlights

• Olympics: Won a team bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, helping Team USA secure its first men’s gymnastics team medal in 16 years.
• World Championships: In 2023, he won individual all-around and team bronze, becoming the youngest American male to medal in the all-around at the World Championships.
• NCAA: As a University of Michigan Wolverine, he won multiple NCAA titles, including the 2023 individual all-around, high bar, and parallel bars, and led the team to the 2025 NCAA title.
• Collegiate Honors: Named 2024 and 2026 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year.
• Social Media/Growth: Known as “FrederickFlips” on TikTok and Instagram, where he shares training content to make gymnastics more popular and accessible. 

Fred Richard has a strong chance to contend for gold at the LA 2028 Olympics, positioned as a prime American medal hope after winning the 2024 Olympic team bronze. As a 20-year-old in 2024, he is focused on upgrading his routines to bridge the gap with top competitors in the all-around and has continued to dominate, winning the 2026 Winter Cup. 

Key Factors for LA 2028 Potential

• Targeting All-Around Gold: Richard is explicitly training with the goal of becoming an all-around champion, using his 2024 experience as a stepping stone to refine his skill set.
• Strong Foundation: After winning bronze in Paris 2024, he is aiming to transition from a top team member to a consistent individual medal threat.
• Momentum: He has shown continued improvement post-Paris, winning the 2026 Winter Cup and 2025 NCAA all-around title.
• Age Advantage: By the 2028 Los Angeles Games, he will be in his prime, with the experience of one Olympic cycle behind him. 

Fred Richard’s major competitors for the LA 2028 Olympics are expected to emerge from the dominant Japanese and Chinese national teams, as Richard specifically cited narrowing the gap with these nations after the 2024 Paris Olympics. Key individual competition will likely come from emerging NCAA standouts, including potential future competitors from Michigan and other top programs.

LA 2028, Team USA is expected to field a powerhouse team, balancing seasoned veterans with rising stars. Key anticipated contenders across sports include Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee in gymnastics, swimmers Katie Ledecky and Gretchen Walsh, track stars Noah Lyles and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, alongside basketball’s Anthony Edwards and Cooper Flagg.

USA has to compete with China and Great Britain in the medal table. The LA 2028 Summer Olympics is expected to include 353 medal events in 36 sports, an increase of 22 events and four sports over Paris 2024; this includes 31 mandatory “core” sports, and five optional sports that were proposed by the organizing committee to help improve local interest.

Many study predicts that the United States will win approximately 41.53 gold medals and 128.77 total medals in the LA 2028 Olympics, with very low prediction uncertainty. Additionally, by analyzing the changes in medal counts from 2024 to 2028, the progress or regression trends of different countries were revealed.
While the exact number of nations for the LA 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is not finalized, it is expected to feature roughly 200 to 207 National Olympic Committees (NOCs). The Games will feature over 10,000 athletes, with new sports like cricket, baseball/softball, and lacrosse expanding participation opportunities.

 Similar to the 2024 Paris Olympics, which featured 206 NOCs plus the Refugee Olympic Team, LA28 is expected to be a near-total gathering of global athletic representation. The return of cricket and baseball/softball, plus the addition of flag football, lacrosse, and squash, could potentially slightly alter the mix of smaller participating nations.
Among the stars from the world, we have discussed 5 US athletes to be sensational at LA 2028. Those stars may impact world sports for many years.

US stars are poised to be highly inspirational for third nations after the LA 2028 Olympics by showcasing high-performance longevity, athlete empowerment, and the expansion of new sports. Figures like Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles, who may compete in LA 2028, demonstrate unprecedented career endurance.