They are called the ‘millennials’ or Generation Z. Digitally adept urban dwellers born between 1982 and 2000, who experts are predicting will be a major factor in the success of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

At Games past, television or the next day's newspapers would have been fans' window into the action. But at London 2012, social media crashed the party as athletes interacted with fans around the world, sharing their personal experiences and sidestepping traditional media.

Social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and especially Snapchat, which continues to emerge as the de facto platform for younger audiences, are allowing spectators to be a part of the Games like never before.

Rio 2016 official Snapchat welcomes athletes and fans from around the world

The head of social media for the International Olympic Committee, Alex Huot, believes we are likely to see “the biggest ever conversation” during Rio 2016.

10 millennial athletes you need to follow

Natalie Hermann

The 16-year-old German rhythmic gymnast will make her first Olympic appearance at Rio 2016, competing in the group all-around event after a succesful year in which she placed consistently within the top four in the group events at the world cup.

Yona Knight-Wisdom 

Born in 1997, the diver is Jamaica's first male Olympian in the sport and the country's first since Betsy Sharpe at Munich 1972.

Claressa Shields

Born 1995, she became the first US boxer to win an Olympic gold medal, winning the middleweight competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Kanak Jha

The 16-year-old is the 2016 US national singles champion and the youngest member of the United States' Olympic delegation. He also became the youngest male table tennis player to qualify for an Olympic Games (Rio 2016).

Giovanna Pedrosa

The 17-year-old is the youngest member of Brazil's Olympic diving team. She will compete in her native Rio de Janeiro at after a year a successful year of diving, consistently finishing among the top five in the World Series and Grand Prix in the Synchronised 10m Platform.

Tania Arrayales

The Mexican fencer finished the 2015/16 season ranked the youth world no.1 and will make her Olympic debut aged just 19.

Simone Biles

The gymnast is the first African-American to become world all-around champion and the first woman to win three consecutive world all-around titles. At just 19, Biles is also the most decorated American female gymnast in world championships history and will make her Olympic debut at Rio 2016.

Biles' team-mates include fellow millenials, 16-year-old Laurie Hernandez and Gabby Douglas, 20, who was a star at London 2012 winning gold in all individual competitions and the team event as part of the 'Ferocious Five', has famously launched her own emoji and messaging app Gabbymoji.

Ellie Carpenter

The youngest member of the Australian delegation, Carpenter was born the same year her country hosted the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and is the first footballer born this century to represent Australia.

Katie Ledecky

The 19-year-old American won an Olympic gold medal at London 2012 in the 800m freestyle and is a nine-time world champion. She is also the current world record-holder in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle (long course).

Tom Daley

The pin-up of British diving won fans around the world when burst onto the world scene at Beijing 2008 at just 14 years old and then took bronze at London 2012. He may be getting a little old for a millenial, but the social media fanatic has come to embody the generation and this August he returns to the city he loves to compete at Rio 2016.