Here's when track and field starts at the Paris Olympics

PARIS, France — While Team USA has already been racking up the medal count in swimming and gymnastics, another high-profile sport has yet to begin. 

Track and field events will kick off with the men's and women's 20-kilometer race walk on Thursday. 

Friday will bring a much fuller slate of events, including the women's 100-meter heats, the final of the men's 10,000-meter race and the start of the decathlon. 

Expect to see track and field stars Noah Lyles, Sha'Carri Richardson and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as they hit the purple track in the Summer Games.

When is Sha’Carri Richardson competing?

Richardson is the fastest woman in the world in the 100-meter in 2024.

The sprinter will make her Olympic debut in the women's 100-meter heats on Friday, Aug. 2.

All signs point toward Richardson getting that win in the Olympic final, set for Aug. 3 at the Stade de France.

She won the Olympic trials in 10.71 seconds – the best time in the world this year. One of her main challengers, Shericka Jackson of Jamaica, pulled up lame in a tune-up race earlier this month, bringing her fitness for the Olympics into question.

When is Noah Lyles competing?

Lyles will run in the 100-meter and 200-meter races, as well as relays. He's expected to contend for gold in the 100-meter, but Jamaica's Kishane Thompson has the fastest time in 2024. The men's 100-meter final is set for Aug. 4, and the final for the 200-meter is Aug. 8.

Lyles calls the 200 meters, where he is a three-time world champion, “my wife” and the 100 meters “my mistress." He became a national champion in both earlier this summer at Olympic trials.

Finals for the men's and women's 4x100 relay are on Aug. 9.

When is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone competing?

McLaughlin-Levrone set a new world record during the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in June, finishing the 400-meter hurdles in 50.65 seconds. She also has the best time in the world in the 400-meter this year and is expected to race in the 4x400 relay. The women's 400-meter hurdle final is on Aug. 8, the 400-meter is Aug. 9 and the 4x400 relay is Aug. 10.