This article titled "Olympics fans from around the world share their hopes for Rio 2016" was written by Guardian readers and Tom Stevens, for theguardian.com on Friday 5th August 2016 11.07 UTCBrazil
Being on home soil, our teams will win a lot of medals in several disciplines. I’m looking forward to the swimming, volleyball and rugby events. While Brazil will do well, they’ll be quite a distance away from the Americans, who will top the medal chart at the end of the Games. Larissa Ferreira
As Neymar is taking part, I’m going to go for the Brazil football team as our best bet for a gold medal. I’ll also be following the volleyball, swimming and basketball – and I fully expect the US basketball team to be head and shoulders above the rest. Nakachima Takeo
Chile
Our triathlete Bárbara Riveros will be Chile’s only real chance of a gold medal in Rio. But artistic gymnast Tomás González and sport shooter Francisca Crovetto are other medal hopefuls this summer. I’ll also be following the volleyball and the swimming. Chile only has one swimmer competing at the Games, Kristel Köbrich, and her chances of a medal are non-existent. USA will top the medal table again this summer, but I also hope the hosts have plenty to cheer about over the coming weeks. Antonia Barrenech
I hope Bárbara Riveros gets on the podium. Maybe gymnast Tomás González will surprise some people, but he’s more of an outsider. Usain Bolt will once again be making most of the headlines. Alvaro Valenzuela
Finland
Watch out for our javelin thrower Tero Pitkamaki. We don’t have many other medal hopes but I’ll enjoy watching Usain Bolt and the US basketball team. Eetu Mäkinen
France
French judoka and flag bearer Teddy Riner should do well in the judo disciplines. After the disappointment of his bronze medal in 2008 in Beijing, Riner has gone on to dominate not only his category but the sport overall. He avenged the Beijing affront in London four years ago by cruising to the gold medal. He has not lost a fight since 2010 and is on a streak of 109 wins in a row. Anything else than a resounding victory in Rio would be the biggest disappointment in French sport since ... well since 10 July.
Rugby is a brilliant addition to the Olympic program. It’s fast and spectacular, and doesn’t need a great understanding of the rules to enjoy. France lost the last rugby final at the Olympics in 1928 against the US. It’s not impossible for Terry Bouhraoua’s team to reach the podium in Rio.
The French volleyball team has had great results in the last two years, winning the World League in 2015. They are clearly challengers for the title in Rio. Robin
Great Britain
I expect great things from the Great Britain equestrian team in all disciplines: the eventing, show jumping, dressage and paralympic dressage. Harvey
It would be great to see the women’s coxed eight achieve what they’ve worked so hard for. Aside from rowing, I’m optimistic about the cycling events this summer. Andrew
India
I’m very optimistic about a number of our athletes this summer. The men’s hockey team should do well and we have a good chance in the tennis mixed doubles. Heena Sidhu and Jitu Rai in the shooting, gymnast Dipa Karmakar and Deepika Kumari in archery are our other hopes in Rio. I’m really looking forward to it. Rajaram
Our men’s hockey team is worth watching. Badminton player Saina Nehwal will do well, as will Yogeshwar Dutt in the wrestling. Add to that our shooters and boxers and we should hopefully have sa good medal haul by the end of it. Sri
Ireland
Boxer Katie Taylor won gold for us in London four years ago and I have everything crossed that she will bring the gold medal back home from Rio too! Brazil, China and USA will all do well, but I have a massive soft spot for Team Jamaica and Usain Bolt. He’ll want to go out on a high so it’s worth keeping an eye out for him and Yohan Blake. Patrick McKean
Aside from Katie Taylor, I hope boxer Paddy Barnes also has a good summer. He’s definitely one to watch out for in the boing disciplines in Rio. Chris Kelly
Iran
I’m confident we can get medals in wrestling, weightlifting, taekwondo and volleyball. Team USA will show everyone how it’s done though. Bahman Nooraei Beidokht
Japan
A lot of our hopes rest on wrestler Saori Yoshida, but we’ll pick up medals regularly and may cause a few surprises. We should be trying to match countries such as USA, China, Russia, France and Great Britain. Izumi
The Netherlands
It will be exciting to see how well our sprinter Dafne Schippers does in Rio. There are high hopes. The dressage team will also excel this summer. Martijn
The women’s hockey team never let us down. The show jumping team are worth keeping an eye on. We have a couple of swimmers, such as Ranomi Kromowidjojo, and cyclists, such as Tom Dumoulin, who could do well. But what is really exciting is the emergence of Dutch medal hopefuls in athletics. Dafe Schippers and Churandi Martina are particular favourites. It might not be enough for a medal but, if the Dutch sprint relay team wins a bronze, it will be one of the most celebrated medals back home. That whole team is likable. Interesting in that regard is that the Dutch for some reason always seem to do better in the team events – surprising isn’t it, as we’re allegedly a country of individualists. Johan
Dafne Shippers is the new Usain Bolt. I’m also hoping athletes such as Epke Zonderland and Ranomi Kromowidjojo defend their Olympic titles. The Dutch team has a chance to win more medals than we did in 2012 in London, which would be great. We will exceed expectations. Eline
Poland
We have a very strong men’s handball team. Hammer thrower Anita Wlodarczyk and discus thrower Piotr Małachowski have plenty of experience and it’s also worth keeping an eye out for tennis player Agnieszka Radwańska, who is currently ranked fourth in the world. Marcin
Sweden
Swedish hopes rest on swimmer Sarah Sjöstrom, particularly in the 100m butterfly, where she holds the world record and is the reigning world champion. After his win at The Open, golfer Henrik Stenson is obviously also a strong medal candidate in a weakened field.
The women’s football team is in fine form and have a good draw. If they can get their first ever Olympic medal, that would be a great success. For the first time ever Sweden has four teams represented, both men and women, in football and handball, so that will be interesting. I’m looking forward to rugby sevens, which I’ve never seen before. David
USA
We should take medals in every sport. Especially in track and field, swimming, gymnastics and basketball. But the short answer is all of them. John Galt
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