10 Olympians to watch in Rio

OMAHA, NE - JULY 02: Michael Phelps of the United States competes in the final heat for the Men's 100 Meter Butterfly during Day Seven of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CenturyLink Center on July 2, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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The Rio Olympics are a few short weeks away. Which Olympians should you keep an eye on?

Opening ceremonies for the Rio Olympic games are on August 6. The city of Rio is scrambling to make last-minute preparations like building seating for spectators, removing dead rats from Guanabara Bay , and naming Off! the official bug spray to combat Zika. No amount of preparation can make water completely safe for sailors, swimmers, and rowers. Fernando Spilki of Brazil’s Feevale University said that consuming only three teaspoons of water had a 99% chance of infecting athletes with a virus that could cause explosive diarhhea and vomiting.

Meanwhile, Olympic officials need to figure out to do about the Russian state-sponsored doping scandal that apparently went well beyond the Winter games in Sochi and has included scores of falsified results across a variety of sports. Most of the athletes’ preparation has taken place over many years, but they still have a lot to do for their big trip to Rio.

Thankfully, fans have a lot less to worry about while watching the games from the comfort of their homes. Preparation for fans usually just entails buying some Team USA gear, procuring snacks, and figuring out which events and individual athletes to follow.

If you need a remedial course in Olympic viewing, we have you covered. From legendary swimmer Michael Phelps to first-time Olympian gymnast Simone Biles, there is plenty of star power at this year’s Olympic games to keep tabs on.

Here are 10 athletes worth following at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio.

Next: 10. Ginny Thrasher, Shooting