🏅 1. Rising Stars & Medal Chasers
Neeraj Chopra (Javelin, India)
– Reigning Olympic champion and World Athletics Best Male Javelin Thrower 2025 en.wikipedia.org+1ibpsguide.com+1.
– Recently hosted the Neeraj Chopra Classic in India and began a strategic partnership with Audi India en.wikipedia.org.
– With momentum and home-ground support, he’s one to watch in all major meets this year.
Jeremiah Azu (Sprints, Great Britain)
– 2025 World & European Indoor 60 m champion; first Welshman under 10s in 100 m thesun.ie+2reddit.com+2reuters.com+2en.wikipedia.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
– Parental responsibilities aside, he projects continued sprint dominance.
Lachlan Kennedy (Sprints, Australia)
– Set Australian indoor record (6.43 s) and 100 m PB of 9.98 s in 2025 theaustralian.com.au+10makemyexam.in+10indiabix.com+10khelnow.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2.
– Balancing elite sport with engineering studies and Type 1 diabetes, Kennedy is both inspiring and formidable.
Tharushi Karunarathna (Middle-Distance, Sri Lanka)
– Asian-record breaking gold medallist in 400 m and qualifier in 800 m for 2024 Olympics en.wikipedia.org.
– Young, focused, and a rising star in South Asian athletics.
🌍 2. Notable Switches & Trailblazers
- Rajindra Campbell (Shot Put, Turkey/Jamaica)
– Paris 2024 bronze medallist who recently switched allegiance to Turkey, backed by significant investment khelnow.com+1reddit.com+1reuters.com.
– A strategic shift that could impact his performance and Turkey’s medal hopes. - Akwasi Frimpong (Skeleton, Ghana)
– At 39, he’s targeting a final Olympic qualification at Milano–Cortina 2026 and promoting winter sports inclusion across Africa sarkarijobnews.com+11guidely.in+11en.wikipedia.org+11reuters.com.
❄️ 3. Britain’s Curling Contenders
- Bruce Mouat’s Team (Men’s/Mixed Doubles, GB)
– Winner of four Grand Slams and returning Olympic silver medallist leads Britain’s first curling squad confirmed for Milano–Cortina 2026 en.wikipedia.org+8reuters.com+8guidely.in+8.
– Also features Olympic champion Jennifer Dodds in the mixed doubles, signaling a competitive GB lineup.
🔄 4. The Policy Climate & Broader Context
- New IOC Leadership (Kirsty Coventry)
– As of late June 2025, the newly elected IOC President pledges a science-based taskforce to refine fairness policies in women’s sports, particularly concerning transgender participation reuters.comnypost.com+2theguardian.com+2thetimes.co.uk+2.
– This initiative reflects ongoing debates and may shape eligibility rules in upcoming Games. - Russia & Belarus Ban Context
– The IOC continues to exclude teams from these nations in the wake of geopolitical tensions, while allowing neutral athletes to compete—prompting concerns around consistency and athlete fairness washingtonpost.com. - “Enhanced Games” Debate
– Launching in 2025, this controversial event promotes engineered performance via PEDs under medical oversight theguardian.com+1theaustralian.com.au+1.
– Sparks critical questions about performance ethics and what constitutes “true” athletic competition.
🔍 5. Athletes to Watch & Why
| Athlete | Discipline | Why They Matter |
|---|---|---|
| Neeraj Chopra | Javelin | World best, trend-setter, flagship representation for India |
| Jeremiah Azu | Sprint | Rising star, national record breaker, indoor champ |
| Lachlan Kennedy | Sprint | Elite athlete with personal challenge, balancing academics and sport |
| Tharushi Karunarathna | 400–800 m | Young force from Sri Lanka with Asian dominance |
| Rajindra Campbell | Shot Put | High-stakes switch to Turkey, potential to medal again |
| Bruce Mouat & Jennifer Dodds | Curling | Top-tier British curling team confirmed for 2026 |
| Akwasi Frimpong | Skeleton | Advocate for African winter sports inclusion, defying age norms |
🏁 Conclusion
Olympics 2025 promises a rich tapestry of athletic stories—from emerging talents like Azu and Kennedy to seasoned champions like Chopra. Off-field, the IOC’s fairness policies and geopolitical decisions continue to reshape the competitive stage. As the sports world tests boundaries—evident in events like the Enhanced Games—the core values of Olympic sport are at a crossroads.
Keep an eye on these athletes and contexts: they’re not simply chasing medals—they’re writing the future narrative of the Olympic movement.