With under a year to go, we look ahead to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Sandy Hooper, USA TODAY
In 2012, it was Katie Ledecky, the then-15-year-old swimmer who stunned the pack – and the world – with her gold-medal winning display in the 800-meter freestyle. She finished more than four seconds ahead of the field, shattered an American record and nearly took down the world record.
And in 2016, it was gymnast Simone Biles who became a household name around the world as she claimed gold in the sport’s biggest event – the women’s individual all-around.