Editor’s note: We’ve invited two athletics-obsessed writers, one American, one Australian – Tim Rossi and Sean Whipp – to share which events they’re psyched for at the Paris Olympics. You can read Sean's picks here.

I need to state up front that I am stoked for the Olympics broadly – I am listing three events below (and some honourable mentions), but you best believe that I will be glued to my TV for the entire competition period. For better or worse, the Olympics are the meet that every athlete globally strives for and shapes their entire seasons, if not careers, around. This means the best of the best going head to head.

So with that in mind, this is what I am extra-amped for.

Women’s 1500m

Faith Kipyegon (Kenya) is the GOAT and I’d argue she is also the biggest lock for gold that exists at the games. But behind her, things get insanely interesting. Coming off the US Trials, both Nikki Hiltz (with their insane last 100 metres) and Elle Purrier St. Pierre (with her insane strength) had a really solid shot at a medal. Then the Paris Diamond League meet happened and Jess Hull (Australia) ran 3:50, Laura Muir (GB) ran 3:53, and Linden Hall (Australia) ran 3:56. And I haven’t even mentioned Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) or Gudaf Tsegay (Ethiopia).

So TL;DR, I think the gold is locked up and then it’s a toss-up. I’ll pick Kipyegon, Hull, Hiltz.

Men’s 1500m

We are in the 1500 golden era, and the men’s race reflects that. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) versus Josh Kerr (GB) up front will be one for the ages. And I’m sure that people will say it’s not a two-person race, but in my opinion you’ve then got a slew of other men fighting for bronze – which might just mean they end up winning the thing. Timothy Cheruiyot (Kenya), Cole Hocker (USA), Olli Hoare (Australia) and Yared Nuguse (USA) are who I expect to be mixing it up over the final 400.

Ingebrigtsen, Kerr, Hocker are my top three.

Men’s 100m

Hate him or love him, Noah Lyles (USA) is a star who is making this event. The 200m specialist has worked on his start and turned into the outright favourite. But when you’re the favourite, everyone is shooting at you. Letsile Tebogo (Botswana), Kishane Thompson (Jamaica), Oblique Seville (Jamaica), Fred Kerley (USA), Kenny Bednarek (USA). Gonna be electric.

In my (biased) opinion: Kerley, Lyles, Tebogo.

Honourable Mentions

The women’s 800m with Keely Hodgkinson (GB) is going to be amazing to watch as she is on another level. This wouldn’t be a Tim Rossi preview without a mention of Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) chasing his third Olympic marathon gold. The women’s 100m with Sha'carri Richardson (USA) versus Jamaica (personified by Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce) will be awesome.