The Two to Watch

If you'd asked me a year ago, or yesterday, for two names to watch in Rio, I would (and still will) say Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles.

Most people remember Missy Franklin as the swimming darling from the London Olympics. And she was because how can you not love her?! But some injuries and such have kept Franklin from being in the same form she was four years ago. Since then, it's been Ledecky, not Franklin, that's been the most dominant U.S. swimmer. Ledecky is 19 and already competing in her second Olympics. She won gold in the only event she competed in (the 800-meter freestyle) as a 15-year-old in London. Ledecky will now be competing in the 200m, 400m and 800m in Rio and, oh by the way, she's also the reigning world champion in each of those events. More than likely, she will also swim in the 4x200-meter relay, which the U.S. is heavily favored to win. She was the youngest athlete of the entire U.S. delegation in London and is still the youngest member of the swim team. You're going to see her atop several podiums during the Olympics, and more to come, trust me!

People are just now starting to learn Biles' name because it's the Olympics and most people only get interested in gymnastics every four years. However, I keep up with the sport all year, every year, and have been watching this girl since she moved to the senior level in 2013. She is the most dominant women's gymnast ever. EVER! She's won three-straight U.S. and world championship all-around titles, owns 10 world championship golds, which is a record, and hasn't lost a meet in almost as long. The only reason some have a hesitation to say she's the best ever is because she hasn't competed in the Olympics...yet. But that will change in just over a week and she's a favorite to win FIVE gold medals. Just to be clear, only six golds are handed out in women's artistic gymnastics. Her talent is just unreal. She's so good that she could fall and still win. Biles is just that much better than everyone else. Many say the competition is for second place because she's unbeatable. That, of course, remains to be seen and I can't wait to watch! Plus, this 4'9" little bubbly, dynamite is from Houston. So I automatically already love her. She's my pick for this quadrennium's "America's Olympic Sweetheart."