Which Olympic Athletes Should Be on 'Dancing with the Stars'?

There's been a long history of decorated Olympic athletes appearing on Dancing with the Stars. Apollo Ohno was the first Olympian to compete on the ABC reality series and set the tone for decades of athletes to follow when he took home the gold. We have since seen many go from the summer or winter games to the dance floor, including Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Kristi Yamaguchi, Shawn Johnson, and Laurie Hernandez.

With the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris beginning to come to a close, our eyes are now on which stars will make their way to Dancing with the Stars soon. Here are our predictions.

Related: Everything to Know About Dancing with the Stars Season 33

2024 Olympic Athletes on Dancing with the Stars

Ilona Maher

Though rugby is not a sport traditionally played or watched by Americans, the tale of the women's team at the Olympics took the country by storm as they ran to a bronze medal. One of the team's breakout stars was Ilona Maher, whose athleticism, skill, and message of body positivity have made her the most followed rugby player in the world on Instagram. Interestingly, Ilona has recently started following the DWTS Instagram account, meaning there's a fair shot we may see her this fall.

Stephen Nedoroscik

Women's gymnastics has become one of the United States' go-to sports at the Olympics, especially with the dominance of athletes like Simone Biles and Suni Lee. However, the men's team this year was able to put together an incredibly commendable performance, earning bronze, the first team medal for men's gymnastics in 16 years. The most viral of the quartet was Stephen Nedoroscik, also known as "Pommel Horse Guy." The 25-year-old became an overnight sensation when an image of him patiently waiting throughout the team finals went viral. By the end of the Olympics, Stephen became a darling of the internet, and it wouldn't be surprising if he donned those Clark Kent glasses on the dance floor soon.

Related: What Do the Olympic Rings Symbolize?

Katie Ledecky

Katie Ledecky is the most decorated female swimmer in Olympic history. The 27-year-old has made waves since 2012, winning 14 medals, nine of them gold. Long-distance swimming is her particular specialty, as every four years, Americans have made a habit of watching Ledecky swim the 800m and 1500m racers with no one else in sight by the end. Considering how much DWTS likes to mine recent gold medal winners, it would not be unsurprising if Ledecky entered the pool of celebs this year.

Jordan Chiles

Jordan Chiles took home two medals at the 2024 Olympics. She was part of the gold medal-winning team alongside previous DWTS alums Simone Biles and Suni Lee. And she earned bronze during the individual floor event, being part of the first all-Black podium in the sport. DWTS has set a clear precedent for picking up gymnasts shortly after their time on the mat. And, if someone from this year's team were to make the leap, chances are it would be Chiles.

Sha'Carri Richardson

Sha'Carri Richardson came into Paris branded as the fastest woman in the world. The sprinter had won the Olympic qualifier in 2021, only to get banned from the games due to testing positive for cannibis. But Richardson came back strong, winning the World Championship in 2023. And she put in an incredible effort in her much-anticipated Olympic debut, netting a silver medal in the 100m. Could Richardson be sprinting off to learn the tango sometime soon?

Next, check out the rumored cast of Dancing with the Stars Season 33.