sport news OLYMPICS SPOTLIGHT: Meet the young US talent set to use Paris Games as an ... trends now
The Olympics are now just 15 weeks away, and Mail Sport is looking ahead to the Paris Games with a series of interviews, flashbacks and deep dives...
The Olympic Games has always been a great place for athletes in all sports to turn themselves into household names as they display their skill for all the world to see.
Among that myriad of sports is soccer, with a focus on younger players being given their chance to shine and prove themselves capable of being future superstars within their national teams.
Recent examples of this include Richarlison at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and Serge Gnabry at the 2016 Rio Olympics - while this year's Games mark the 20th anniversary of Argentina taking the gold and introducing the world to a young striker named Carlos Tevez.
While those same expectations may not fall at the feet of the United States, nevertheless, this proves as a top opportunity for a number of players to prove their worth for future national teams - and even start to make their case for the World Cup in two years' time.
Mail Sport takes a look at five players who will be looking to make their mark at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Players in the US Olympic Soccer Team have the chance to prove they belong in the USMNT
The young men of coach Marko Mitrovic have a summer in Paris to prove themselves
The Chicagoland native Gabriel 'Gaga' Slonina has the potential to be the next great American goalkeeper - joining names like Brad Friedel, Casey Keller, and our very own columnist Tim Howard.
Slonina was the only American present on Goal.com's NXGN list of the 50 best young players in 2023 - and was also the only goalkeeper mentioned.
He signed with his hometown club, the Chicago Fire, back in 2013 and made his senior debut in August of 2021.
After just 34 appearances in between the posts, Chelsea signed Slonina to a deal worth a reported $10million. He's been loaned out to Belgian side Eupen this season, where he's managed four clean sheets in 28 matches.
He made his international debut in January of 2023 in a match against Serbia, after choosing to represent the United States over his grandparent's native Poland. Now, with a chance to shine on the world stage, he could prove that he truly made the right choice.
Gabriel 'Gaga' Slonina has the highest potential among young American goalkeepers
He could vault himself into a top spot starting with a strong showing in Paris this summer
Much like 'Gaga', the next player on our list prefers to go by a nickname rather than his given name.
When he was younger, John Tolkin's uncle gave him the nickname 'JMi' - a portmanteau of his first and middle names (John Michael). To this day, his teammates and family refer to him as JMi and he says he doesn't answer to John.
Either way, JMi is one of the best promising defensive talents in the US Olympic camp - a true modern day fullback capable of closing down opponents and contributing in the buildup.
The New York Red Bulls deemed him such an important part of their team that they couldn't part with him this winter despite rumored interest from clubs in England like Sheffield United and West Brom.
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