Athletes who have competed under the Olympic rings are returning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The chance to compete at home on the world stage is proving too tempting to ignore for a generation of American stars who have racked up medal after medal on other continents.

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Track icon Allyson Felix is mounting a return in her early 40s. Six-time Olympic medalist and 2020 Olympic gymnastics all-around champion Suni Lee announced last month she’s started training for a shot at her third Games. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Jade Carey is already back, winning the vault and finishing fifth in the all-around at the U.S. championships.

The media landscape has shifted dramatically since the 1996 Games in Atlanta. The rise of social media allows athletes to easily tell their stories directly to new audiences, and the ability to create and curate their own brand opens sponsorship opportunities that didn’t exist a generation ago.

Legacy

Longtime agent Sheryl Shade called the opportunities for athletes to capitalize on success in Los Angeles “exponentially” greater than any Games that have come before. “It’s going to be long-range too,” Shade said. “Because now it doesn’t end at the Olympic Games. That’s why LA is so important. This is about legacy.”

Seven-time Olympic medalist Shannon Miller said, “I can promise every athlete that makes the team, this Olympics will be one of the greatest moments of their careers.” Her advice to anyone considering it: go for it, even if things don’t work out exactly as you planned.

Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.