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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PANAMA CITY, PANAMA – JUNE 24: Ghislain Perrier of Brazil fights to stay in bounds while parrying an attack from Alexander Massialas of the USA during the team men’s foil gold medal match at the Pan-American Fencing Championships on June 24, 2016 at the Convention Center Vasco Nunez de Balboa in Panama City, Panama. (Photo by Devin Manky/Getty Images) /

3. Alexander Massialas, Fencing

If all you know of fencing is the sword fight scene from The Princess Bride, you definitely need to check out Olympic fencing. It might not as popular as swimming, gymnastics or track and field, but it is a fun sport to watch.

Alexander Massialas is top-ranked among male foil fencers and was the NCAA champion as a freshman in 2013 and his junior year in 2015. Though he is only 22, Massialas is an Olympic veteran. In 2012, he was the youngest member of the U.S. squad.

Massialas’ father and coach, Greg, was a member of the United States fencing team in 1984 and 1988. Following in his father’s footsteps as a two-time Olympian, Massialas will surpass his father’s accomplishments if he brings home gold from Rio. He would be the first American to win gold in fencing.

Alexander Massialis stated the obvious in an NBC interview, saying, “Obviously I’d like to be the person to break the drought.” Still, he is keeping things in perspective, noting, “For me, it’s about getting on the strip and beating whoever is in front of me.”

If he gets on the strip and beats whomever is in front of him enough times in Rio, he will make U.S. fencing history.

Next: 2. Michael Phelps, Swimming