Could the 2028 Olympics Introduce a New Generation of Global Sports Star

The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games could provide one of the biggest stages yet for a new generation of international sports stars.

With less than two years remaining before the Games open, attention is already turning toward athletes who could make their Olympic breakthroughs in Los Angeles. Some are teenagers competing at senior level, while others are established competitors preparing for their first Olympic appearance in a new or returning sport.

The LA28 programme will feature 40 sports and 353 medal events, with more than 11,000 athletes expected to compete. The Games will also introduce flag football and squash to the Olympic programme, while cricket and lacrosse will return.

That combination could create opportunities for athletes who are not yet household names to become internationally recognised.

Why LA28 Could Be Different

Every Olympic Games produces breakout stars, but Los Angeles has several features that could make the 2028 edition particularly interesting.

The introduction of new sports means some athletes will compete for Olympic medals in disciplines that have never previously appeared at the Games.

Flag football and squash will make their Olympic debuts, while cricket returns to the programme for the first time in more than a century. Baseball and softball will also return, and lacrosse will be back in the medal programme.

For athletes competing in these sports, an Olympic appearance could provide an entirely new level of international exposure.

Flag Football Could Produce New Stars

Flag football is one of the sports with the potential to introduce Olympic audiences to athletes they may not have previously followed.

The sport will make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles, and its international participation has been expanding. The NFL has reported that more than 20 million people worldwide play flag football, including more than 4 million young players in the United States.

The sport’s Olympic arrival is also encouraging young athletes to consider an international career.

Sixteen-year-old American Aysia Jones-Robinson is one example. The Maryland teenager has already gained national recognition and is targeting the possibility of representing the United States at the 2028 Olympics.

If flag football attracts a large global audience in Los Angeles, some of its leading players could emerge as new international sports personalities.

Squash Has Its First Olympic Opportunity

Squash will also make its Olympic debut at LA28.

That creates a particularly important opportunity for young squash players who have spent years developing their careers without an Olympic pathway.

India’s 18-year-old Anahat Singh is one athlete attracting attention ahead of the Games. She has already won the World Junior Championship and climbed to No. 20 in the world rankings. She is targeting the 2026 Asian Games as part of her preparation for Los Angeles.

Egypt’s Amina Orfi is another young squash star whose career could become even more prominent before 2028.

The Olympic debut of squash could therefore introduce a much wider audience to a sport that already has a strong international following.

Cricket Could Reach a New Olympic Audience

Cricket’s return is another major storyline.

The sport will return to the Olympics for the first time in more than a century, with men’s and women’s T20 competitions scheduled for Los Angeles.

Cricket already has enormous audiences across South Asia, Australia, England and other parts of the world. Olympic participation could introduce the sport to additional audiences while giving established and emerging players another global platform.

For younger cricketers, an Olympic tournament could eventually become an important part of their international careers.

Young Athletes Are Already Emerging

The road to Los Angeles is already producing potential breakout stars.

Team GB has identified several emerging athletes who could make an impact at LA28, including track cyclist Josh Charlton, road cyclist Cat Ferguson, high jumper Kimani Jack and 19-year-old boxer Ruby White.

The examples show that future Olympic stars are not limited to the biggest sports.

A young athlete in cycling, athletics, boxing, archery or canoeing can potentially use the next two years to progress from an emerging competitor to an Olympic medal contender.

Swimming Could Also Produce New Names

Swimming is another sport where new opportunities are emerging.

LA28 will introduce 50-metre events in backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, expanding the programme and creating additional medal opportunities.

The change has already influenced athletes planning for Los Angeles.

South African double Olympic champion Tatjana Smith has announced that she is coming out of retirement with the goal of competing in the new 50m breaststroke event. She described the event as having no Olympic history yet and said she wants to create new history in it.

While Smith is already an established champion, the new events could also create opportunities for swimmers who specialise in shorter distances.

Athletics Remains a Major Platform

Track and field is likely to remain one of the biggest sources of Olympic stars.

Young athletes are already attracting attention in the United States and internationally.

American 800m runner Cooper Lutkenhaus, for example, has emerged as a teenage track talent and has already competed at senior national level. His performances have made him one of the younger athletes being followed on the road to Los Angeles.

Other young athletes around the world are following similar paths, with international championships providing opportunities to gain experience before the Olympics.

Asia Is Producing Potential Future Stars

The 2026 Asian Games are also providing an early look at athletes who could become important figures at LA28.

Philippines tennis player Alexandra Eala has emerged as one of the most closely watched young players in women’s tennis. She has won a WTA title and reached a career-high ranking of 18, while also preparing for the Asian Games.

Japan’s 16-year-old gymnast Misa Nishiyama is another athlete attracting attention. She won the 2025 junior world title on floor and has already set her sights on the 2028 Olympics.

These athletes illustrate how quickly careers can develop between one Olympic cycle and the next.

The Next Two Years Will Be Important

Being considered a rising star in 2026 does not guarantee Olympic success in 2028.

Young athletes still have to qualify, remain healthy and perform under pressure. Established competitors will also be fighting for Olympic places, meaning competition for national teams could become intense.

The next two years will therefore be crucial.

World championships, continental competitions and qualification events will provide athletes with opportunities to establish themselves before the Olympic Games.

Could LA28 Create Global Sporting Icons?

The combination of established sports, returning disciplines and Olympic newcomers makes Los Angeles an important opportunity for the next generation.

Flag football and squash will introduce entirely new Olympic competitors. Cricket will bring an enormous international fan base back to the Games. New swimming events will create additional opportunities, while young athletes in athletics, tennis, gymnastics and cycling are already developing their reputations.

Some will win medals. Others may simply make their Olympic debut.

But the exposure provided by Los Angeles could transform the careers of athletes who are currently known mainly within their countries or individual sports.

A New Olympic Generation Is Taking Shape

The 2028 Olympics are still some distance away, but the next generation of athletes is already emerging.

From young tennis players and swimmers to teenage gymnasts, boxers, runners and flag football competitors, many athletes are using international competitions to build experience before reaching Los Angeles.

The Games will also give new and returning sports an opportunity to reach audiences that may not normally follow them.

That combination could make LA28 an important launching point for a new group of international sports stars.

By the time the Olympic flame is lit in Los Angeles, some of today’s emerging athletes could already be established champions. Others may introduce themselves to the world for the first time.

Either way, the next generation of global sports stars is already beginning to take shape.