Lots of stars, one team

“The goals have definitely not changed“: Shortly before the 2024 Olympic Games, Malaika Mihambo once again stated clearly in a television interview that she was highly motivated to travel to Paris despite the setback of a recent coronavirus infection. The 30-year-old long jumper is looking to defend the Olympic gold she won in Tokyo in 2021.  

While Mihambo is very familiar with the Olympics, Paris will be a special premiere for Dennis Schröder. The captain of Germany’s 2023 world champion basketball team says it has “always been a goal of mine to be at the Olympic Games”. Now that’s working out for 30-year-old Schröder, who plays for the Brooklyn Nets in New York.   

Who are the most famous athletes on the German Olympic team? 

Mihambo and Schröder are among the stars of the German Olympic team, which reflects remarkable diversity with around 450 top athletes. It includes outstanding individual talents such as tennis world stars Angelique Kerber (silver medallist at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro) and Alexander Zverev (2021 Olympic champion in Tokyo), not to mention some well-known teams. In addition to the men’s basketball team led by captain Schröder, the women’s football team and the men’s handball team are especially outstanding. Particularly experienced Olympic stars include table tennis player Timo Boll, who has won several team medals and is exceptionally popular in China and elsewhere, as well as dressage rider Isabell Werth. She has already won seven gold medals at the Olympics: in Paris she will have chance to catch up with the all-time record holder, Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina (nine gold medals).   

Who are the secret stars of the German Olympic team? 

Some athletes have not yet been in the public eye but have caused a stir with impressive showings before the Games. In athletics, for example, there is the women’s 4x100 metre relay team, or decathlete Leo Neugebauer and marathon runner Amanal Petros. There are also exciting German talents in trend sports, such as surfers Camilla Kemp and Tim Elter or skateboarder Lilly Stoephasius, who will be taking part in her second Olympic Games in Paris at the tender age of 17. Swimmer Angelina Köhler has recently become a star, winning gold in the 100 metre butterfly at the 2024 World Championships, while also making a very positive impression after being very open about her ADHD diagnosis. For her, taking part in the Olympics fulfils “a very, very big childhood dream,” says Köhler.