There's no comparison in sports to how quickly an athlete can become a star at the Olympics.
Most casual sports fans have never heard of the first-time Olympians who will win gold in the coming weeks, but some of the athletes in the more popular Olympic sports—swimming, gymnastics and track and field—will become household names by the end of the Rio games.
Consider this your introduction to these soon-to-be stars. These seven first-time Olympians are favored to win gold, and their stories are worth following.