The Rio Olympic games are about to kick off! Featuring 27,000 athletes from more than 200 countries (of which we travel to nearly 50%), we can’t wait to support the competitors you’ve probably never heard of! Thanks to the many in country experts we work with, we’ve complied a list of the athletes to watch out for such as runners Hari and Saraswati from Nepal, Karma the female archer from Bhutan, Roberto the hammer thrower from Costa Rica and Kristel the freestyle swimmer from Chile. Read more about these incredible Olympic athletes from around the world.

Bhutan

Twenty-six-year-old Karma is the best recurve bow archer in the country. Karma has been specialising in Olympics-style archery since 2009 and has taken part in more than eight international competitions, winning medals for the country. “It’s a dream come true for me to be a part of the Olympics”. The country’s best air rifle shooter, Lenchu Kuenzang (Ms), 24, will represent Bhutan in Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil. She was chosen through a wild card entry, an opportunity given to member countries of the International Olympic Committee.

>> Take me to Bhutan

Chile

Chile has a fair-sized delegation going, and one athlete you could focus on is Kristel Kobrich, a long distance freestyle swimmer. She was the country flag bearer at the 2004 games, and holds the South American record in women's 800/1500 m freestyle (short and long course) as well as national records in Chile. Also there is Natalia Duco. She's a shot putter, finished in 9th place at the 2012 Olympics, and has competed and won medals in many other international competitions.

>> Take me to Chile

Costa Rica

Roberto Sawyer will be competing in the Hammer Throw. He is the national record holder in Costa Rica. Joining him will be fellow athletes; Nery Brenes (oficial) (run 400 y 200 mtrs), Sharolyn Scott (400 mtrs hurdle), Natalia Alfaro & Karen Cope (beach volleyball), Andrey Amador (road cycling), Andrey Fonseca (mountain bike), Leonardo Chacón Corrales (triathlon), Miguel Murillo (judo) and Mary Laura Meza (swimming).

>> Take me to Costa Rica

Ethiopia

Of course we expect Ethiopia to dominate on the athletics track with the likes of Mare Didaba hopeful to win a medal in the marathon, but have you heard of the Ethiopian road cyclist Tsgabu Grmay? Tsgabu is the first Ethiopian to ever ride in the Tour de France (in 2016) and he will be competing in Rio in the men’s road race on 6th August.

>> Take me to Ethiopia

Georgia

Georgia is being represented by 40 athletes which will make up the country’s biggest ever team. Competing in 13 different categories such as Judo, tennis and rhythmic gymnastics. Watch out for weightlifter Anastasia Gottfried who has just secured a last minute qualification for Rio when she was granted a place after Russian weightlifters were disqualified.

>> Take me to Georgia

Iran

Archer Zahra Nemati will be the leader of Iranian athletes’ team in 2016 Rio Olympics. She will be joined by many other fellow Iranian athletes competing in wrestling, shooting, taekwondo and volleyball – a sport which Iran has not managed to qualified in the Olympics for, for 52 years!

>> Take me to Iran

Nepal

Nepal will be sending 7 athletes to Rio who will compete in 5 different disciplines. Hari Rimal in the Men’s 5000 metres and Saraswati Bhattarai in the Women’s 1500 metres, Ms. Phupu Lhamu Khatri who is participating Women's - 63 kg Judo (who sadly lost her father in the avalanche on Everest in 2015), Gaurika Singh in swimming, Nisha Rawal in taekwondo and Jitbahadur Muktan in archery.

>> Take me to Nepal

utan

Twenty-six-year-old Karma, the best recurve bow archer in the country. Karma has been specialising in Olympics-style archery since 2009 and has taken part in more than eight international competitions, winning medals for the country. “It’s a dream come true for me to be a part of the Olympics." The country’s best air rifle shooter, Lenchu Kuenzang (Ms), 24, will represent Bhutan in Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil. She was chosen through a wild card entry, an opportunity given to member countries of the International Olympic Committee.