Ev4)"Top 10 Young Athletes Making Waves in Sports"

 Welcome, sports enthusiasts, to our channel where we embark on an exhilarating journey through the world of sports to celebrate the rising stars who are making waves and redefining the game. From prodigious talents to fearless competitors, these young athletes are capturing hearts, breaking records, and inspiring millions around the globe.

Join us as we count down the Top 10 Young Athletes Making Waves in Sports, shining a spotlight on their remarkable achievements, unwavering determination, and extraordinary potential. Whether they're dribbling on the court, diving into the pool, or tearing down the track, these athletes are leaving an indelible mark on their respective sports and carving out their own legacies.

So, grab your favorite sports jersey, settle in, and prepare to be inspired by the electrifying performances and captivating stories of these young champions. Let's dive into the world of sports and witness greatness in the making. Welcome to our countdown!

1: Katie Ledecky, 18

Those of you who only follow Olympic sports such as swimming for a month every four years may be struggling to remember why this name is familiar to you. We believe that you'll be familiar with 18-year-old Katie Ledecky by the end of 2016.

Ledecky first gained international fame at the London 2012 Summer Olympics when, at 15-years-old, she qualified to compete in the final at the 800-meter freestyle. The American not only won that event. She left no doubt, finishing four seconds ahead of then-21-year-old Spaniard Mireia Belmonte, who took home silver (h/t Sports-Reference).

As impressive as she was in London, Ledecky was just getting started.

2: Noah Syndergaard, 23

Flamethrower Noah Syndergaard of the New York Mets knew that Alcides Escobar would come out swinging at the first pitch when the Mets hosted the Kansas City Royals in Game 3 of the 2015 World Series on Oct. 30. Syndergaard responded by rifling his opening pitch over the head of the Kansas City leadoff hitter. Members of the Royals were understandably upset after the game.

Per USA Today, Syndergaard had quite the response when speaking to reporters after the New York victory:

3: Jordan Spieth, 22

It could be argued that no sport featured in this piece needs a young star to carry the torch more than golf. Enter Jordan Spieth, who has seemingly welcomed the challenge with open arms.

Spieth was first noticed by casual followers of the Professional Golfers' Association during the 2014 edition of the Masters Tournament. Then 20 years old, Spieth was tied for first after 54 holes. He had a two-stroke lead in the final round of the tournament, but he shot three-over in the final 11 holes to finish behind only then-35 year-old Bubba Watson (h/t PGA.com).

4: John Tavares, 25

New York is not a hockey town. Local fans embrace the New York Yankees and New York Mets, particularly when those teams are playing meaningful, fall baseball. Both the New York Giants and New York Jets dominate sports talk radio airwaves for at least half of the year because football is king. The New York Rangers register small blips on the radar—but only when the team is in the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

John Tarvares is looking to put the New York Islanders back on the map.

The No. 1 pick of the 2009 NHL draft, Tarvares has been the key figure for an Islanders club attempting to return to its glory days. The 25-year-old is far and away the most popular player for the team that calls the Barclays Center and Brooklyn home.

5: Harry Kane, 22

"He scores when he wants! He scores when he wants! Harry Kane, he scores when he wants!"

Formerly a young Tottenham Hotspur prospect who appeared headed toward obscurity, Kane has become a beloved figure who is showered with praise from adoring crowds whenever he plays at White Hart Lane.

Following a group of loan spells, Kane received an opportunity to feature for the Tottenham senior squad during the 2014-15 campaign. Then 21 years old, the forward did not disappoint. Kane buried 31 total goals. Twenty-one of those were scored in Premier League play (h/t BBC.com). Kane joined 49-year-old Teddy Sheringham, current U.S. men's national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann and 26-year-old Gareth Bale as the only Tottenham players to ever score that many goals in an EPL season.

6: Todd Gurley, 21

It is no longer rare to hear NFL analysts and experts claim that teams should shy away from drafting a running back in the first round of any draft. Todd Gurley has thus far shown that he was worthy of being taken 10th overall in 2015.

Gurley was compared to all-time great running backs, such as 30-year-old Adrian Peterson (h/t ESPN.com), after he rushed for more yards in his first four starts than any other RB since the NFL/AFL merger (h/t ESPN.com). In just one month, Gurley had become the best young back in the game. He is a must-play for those who participate in weekly fantasy football competitions.

As should have been expected, Gurley eventually hit a rookie wall. While he will not win the rushing title in his first year in the league, Gurley was selected to the 2016 NFL Pro Bowl squad. We may not yet know which city the St. Louis Rams will call home by the end of the decade. However, it does appear that the Rams have something special in the 21-year-old workhorse.

7: Bryce Harper, 23

Bryce Harper is everything an MLB club could want out of a budding superstar. The 2012 National League Rookie of the Year is a three-time All-Star. Harper took home National League Most Valuable Player honors for 2015 even though the Washington Nationals right fielder choked the division title away to the New York Mets. Harper turned just 23 years old on October 16 of this year (h/t Baseball-Reference.com). 

Most worrisome for fans of the Nationals is that it appears that it is only a matter of time before Harper joins up with the New York Yankees.

Head on over to your favorite search engine and type in "Bryce Harper" and "Yankees." You'll be busy reading stories for at least an hour. As explained by Joe Giglio of NJ.com in November, the Yankees could already be planning to make a move for Harper in 2019.

8: Neymar, 23

Neymar can be a polarizing figure among diehard soccer fans who have followed his career. The on-the-ball skills flashed by the 23-year-old are what one would expect to see in an edition of a FIFA video game. Alleged dives that Neymar has committed while playing for club or country have, however, earned him criticism from analysts and fans alike (h/t the Daily Mail).

The trio of Neymar, 28-year-old Lionel Messi and 28-year-old Luis Suarez helped Barcelona win the treble (La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles) last season. It is a safe bet that Neymar will continue filling the Barcelona trophy case for years to come.

9: Kyrie Irving, 23

When all is said and done, Kyrie Irving could be the biggest U.S. legend among the athletes featured in this piece. Irving plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers in a city that has not been able to celebrate a professional sports championship in over 50 years. The 23-year-old is the heir apparent in Cleveland to 30-year-old LeBron James. Irving's "Uncle Drew" persona is an advertiser's dream.

Just one thing continues to be missing: a title.

Think back to what could have been last June had Irving not injured his knee in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Perhaps the Cavaliers would have been able to win that contest and then complete the road sweep of the Golden State Warriors. A healthy Irving and James could then have led the Cavs back east with a 2-0 series lead.

10: Odell Beckham Jr., 23

You have seen the highlights of his one-handed catches. You have either been entertained or voiced hot takes when he has danced in end zones after scoring. He is Odell Beckham Jr., the New York Giants wide receiver who made history in the first 25 games of his NFL career (h/t NJ.com).

It is ridiculous, after the fact, to think that some fans of the Giants were nervous when Beckham missed training camp, the preseason and the first month of the 2014 season because of lingering hamstring issues.

And there you have it, sports fans – the Top 10 Young Athletes Making Waves in Sports. From the courts to the fields, pools, and tracks, these rising stars have shown us that age is just a number when it comes to talent and determination.

But their journey is far from over. As they continue to push boundaries and chase their dreams, let's pledge to support and cheer them on every step of the way. Who knows, perhaps one day we'll witness them etching their names into the annals of sports history as true legends.

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Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey through the world of sports. Until next time, keep believing, keep striving, and keep celebrating the spirit of athleticism. See you in the next video!