30 Times Olympic Athletes Absolutely Stunned On The Red Carpet
From the balance beam to the Met Gala, these Olympians never miss.
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While you might picture most Olympic athletes in their uniforms—whether it’s sleek snow gear or a patterned leotard—many of your favorite medalists have dazzled on the red carpet.
In the wake of their sporting success, plenty of the Olympics’ biggest names have scored invites to glitzy events usually reserved for Hollywood royalty. We’re talking everything from movie premieres to the Oscars and the Met Gala—impressive! It’s no huge surprise, though, considering some of these athletes, including retired soccer star Megan Rapinoe and tennis legend Serena Williams, have opened up about their lifelong love for fashion.
Here are 30 Olympians dressed to the nines on the red carpet, from Simone Biles in a gown that weighs 88 pounds (yes, really) to Coco Gauff in custom Prada.
Simone Biles, 2021 Met Gala
Biles, widely regarded as one of the best gymnasts of all time, wore custom AREA x Athleta on this first Monday in May. The three-piece ensemble included a Swarovski crystal-embellished skirt that weighed 88 pounds. She told Vogue that she hoped her dress would show people that female athletes can be both “tough” and “beautiful.”
Lindsey Vonn, 2024 Laureus Awards
Here, Lindsey Vonn posed on the red carpet at what’s often dubbed the “Oscars of Sports.” After retiring from Olympic competition, the skier told British Vogue that she’s gone through a style evolution over the years. “You go through waves of being more reserved, and waves of being a little bit more feminine and sexy,” she said. “It just depends on where you are in life.”
Jordan Chiles, 2024 Las Vegas Party
Jordan Chiles proved she can not only nail complex floor routines but also the art of a casual-but-chic red carpet look with this leather set. (We spy a Kansas City Chiefs hat!) The gymnast, looking to make her second Olympic squad, recently modeled for Nike ahead of the Paris Games.
Megan Rapinoe, 2023 Time Women Of The Year Gala
Rapinoe put her own spin on recent trends, like red flats and exposed underwear, while walking the red carpet at the 2023 gala, where she was one of 12 honorees. In a campaign for Victoria’s Secret, the former soccer star described her style as “sometimes a hurricane, sometimes plain.”
Serena Williams, 2024 Met Gala
Williams was known for her bold looks on the tennis court, so it’s not all that surprising that she’s been a lifelong fashion lover. According to the The New York Times, she not only attended fashion school but has also been sewing since she was just 3years old. What can’t she do?
Katie Ledecky, 2022 ESPYs
Katie Ledecky truly made the whole place shimmer in a sparkle-laden look at the ESPYs, where she took home the Female Athlete and U.S. Female Olympian awards. “There are so many heroes, not just in sports, but all around us,” the swimmer said in her acceptance speech. “Look to those people as role models and go for the gold.”
Laurie Hernandez, 2023 Alzheimer’s Association Imagine Benefit
That green velvet gown against that floral background is perfection. Although Laurie Hernandez is best known for her gymnastics success, she also created a body-positive clothing line for young girls. “To be able to be comfortable with myself and my body feels like a superpower, and I want all girls to be able to feel the same,” she told Teen Vogue.
Chloe Kim, 2023 Unforgettable Gala
Here, the snowboarder stunned (and matched the carpet) in a red gown with a plunging neckline. In 2022, Chloe Kim partnered with Roxy to design a line of colorful snowboarding gear. “On the mountains, I love to wear color, because it looks good, you know? Everything’s all white, so you need a pop for contrast,” she told Harper's Bazaar.
Nelly Korda, 2024 Met Gala
In 2024, Nelly Korda became the first golfer since Tiger Woods to attend the Met Gala, where she wore a sheer gown adorned with red flower appliqués. Although she looked like a natural at one of fashion’s biggest nights, it was actually her first red carpet event. “This is my comfort zone,” she told the Golf Channel in reference to her golf attire. “It was really, really neat to step outside of my comfort zone and do something like that.”
Aly Raisman, 2022 TIME 100 Gala
Although Aly Raisman told WWD that she prefers to wear athleisure over anything else, she has wowed us with her red carpet style over the years. Here, she chose a one-shoulder gown complete with a bold black-and-white pattern.
Nastia Liukin, 2023 ESPYs
The gymnast-turned-Olympic commentator dazzled in a pink sequin ombré gown. “I love being able to wear a dress with sneakers and then, wear like a Dior dress,” Nastia Liukin told People. “I go back and forth, I guess, from edgy to girly.”
Shaun White, 2024 Vanity Fair Oscars Party
Shaun White nailed the luxe dress code for Oscars night. Since retiring from competitive snowboarding, the athlete has launched Whitespace, a line of snow gear that blends both technical and stylish elements. When he’s off the slopes, he told Esquire his typical look leans toward “luxury-comfort.”
Coco Gauff, 2024 TIME Women Of The Year Gala
Coco Gauff, pictured here in a custom Prada gown, was dubbed “the tennis world’s new fashion ‘It Girl’” by The Daily Beast. “I love fashion. I love makeup. I love that type of thing,” she told the press at the U.S. Open media day, adding that she wants to find a way to integrate her passion for style into her brand.
Suni Lee, 2021 Met Gala
Suni Lee channeled Olympic gold with this custom two-piece by Sukeina. She told People that the process for choosing her competition leotards surprisingly isn’t too far off from daily dressing: “I love being fashionable whether I’m on the beam or hanging out, so it’s so fun for me to pick out my leotard for competitions. The same goes for my workout and street style looks.”
Carissa Moore, 2024 World Surfing League Awards
The surfer didn’t stray too far from her beachy roots, pairing a black jumpsuit with a lei and a classic pair of Converse. In a letter published in Surfer magazine, Carissa Moore refused to let discussions about her surfwear define her career. “I’m sexy because I leave stuff to the imagination, and I let my surfing do the talking.”
Eileen Gu, 2024 King’s Trust Global Gala
Eileen Gu pulls double duty as both a skiing champ and a model. Pictured here in a sculptural green dress, she’s become a Fashion Week fixture. “Just like skiing, modeling requires incredible expression and personality,” she told Vogue Hong Kong. “The transition between modeling and skiing became a break and a practice for each other that helped me eventually feel more motivated in each area.”
Russell Westbrook, 2022 Met Gala
Russell Westbrook continued to push fashion barriers in a top hat and skirt combo. The NBA star and Olympic medalist told Vogue that he stands by his style: “Yes, there will be good reviews, bad reviews but doesn’t really matter, as long as I feel good about it, I hope it inspires people to wear and be outgoing and outspoken.”
Mikaela Shiffrin, 2023 ESPYs
Mikaela Shiffrin, an Alpine skiing pro, wowed in a backless gown on the red carpet. Although she was all glammed up at the awards show, she said her everyday style is considerably more casual. “Adidas Superstars are my daily staple in life,” she told GQ Sports. “It’s a perfect everything shoe.”
Sabrina Ionescu, 2022 Tribeca Film Festival
The WNBA star, who’s preparing for the Olympics as a member of Team USA, stepped out on the red carpet at the Unfinished Business movie premiere. In 2023, Sabrina Ionescu partnered with Nike to create a clothing line inspired by her Romanian heritage and also has a signature sneaker with the brand.
Naomi Osaka, 2021 Met Gala
The tennis champ wowed in a look inspired by her Japanese and Haitian heritage. When it comes to everyday wear, Naomi Osaka told Harper’s Bazaar that her style is “equal parts sporty, feminine, and unexpected.”
Madison McGee is a shopping editor at Hearst magazines, primarily reporting on home, tech, fashion, and books across titles like Cosmopolitan, Esquire, House Beautiful, Country Living, ELLE, Town & Country, and more. Prior to joining Hearst, she covered pop culture and trending news at BuzzFeed and worked in book publishing. Madison is a graduate of both the University of Mississippi and New York University, where she received her Master’s in book publishing and magazine media. When she’s not writing gift guides, product reviews, and sales and deals content, she’s probably exploring New York City’s independent bookstores or cheering on the Baltimore Ravens.
