While everyone is watching for the medals, we’re also keeping a close eye on a few Olympic records that could finally be broken this year. Read on to see which ORs we think may be in jeopardy — and which athletes could take them down.

Current Record: 71.84 meters

The discus was a highly contentious event at the 1988 Olympics. German thrower Gabriele Reinsch had just set a new world record, and she was the presumptive favorite to win the event. Fellow German thrower Martina Hellmann wasn’t going down without a fight, though, and set a new Olympic record with a throw of 71.84 meters, winning the gold medal. 

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Who Could Break It: Valarie Allman (USA)

Allman currently dominates the discus event, with the top twelve discus throws in U.S. history to her name. Her farthest mark of 71.46m is not far off from Hellmann’s record.

Current Record: 21.34 seconds

Florence Griffith-Joyner had one of the most dominant Olympic performances in 1988, setting Olympic and world records in the 100m and 200m races. Flo-Jo’s mark of 21.34 still stands despite the best efforts of generational runners trying to break it.

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Who Could Break It: Shericka Jackson (Jamaica)

Sprinter Shericka Jackson has come the closest to breaking Flo-Jo’s record, posting three of the four fastest times on record in the event. The only hiccup may be that Jackson is nursing an injury she sustained at an event in Hungary.

Current Record: 39 points

Bulgaria’s Evladia Slavtcheva-Stefanova set the record for the most points scored in a single game after scorching the Republic of Korea for 39 points. Her record has been untouched since 1988, although Brittney Griner got close when she scored 30 points in Team USA’s 2020 gold medal game. 

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Who Could Break It: A’ja Wilson (USA) 

Wilson is at the top of her game. She's putting together a historic WNBA season in which she’s averaging 27.2 points per game and has posted multiple 30-point games so far.

Current Record: 55.48 seconds

Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström set the Olympic 100m butterfly record in Rio in 2016. Canada’s Maggie MacNeil came close to breaking the record in Tokyo with her gold medal time of 55.59 seconds but was just a second too late.

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Who Could Break It: Gretchen Walsh (USA)

Gretchen Walsh is undoubtedly capable of breaking the record. Her 55.18 time in the 100m butterfly set a new world record (and beat this Olympic record) at the 2024 Olympic trials. The more intriguing part here is that Walsh’s competition for the record might just be coming from her own teammate, Torri Huske, who was right behind Walsh with a time of 55.52 at the trials.

Current Record: 7 medals

Shannon Miller has been the most decorated US Olympic gymnast since the Atlanta Games. She won three bronze and two silver medals at the 1992 Games in Barcelona and two golds in 1996. 

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Who Could Break It: Simone Biles (USA)

Simone only needs one medal at the Paris Games to surpass Miller’s record. Biles won four golds and a bronze in 2016, then added another bronze and a silver in 2020.