The 27 athletes you should follow on social media ahead of the Summer Olympics

The Summer Olympics are fast approaching - opening ceremonies are set for August 5 - and no matter where you are in the world, one of the best ways to stay up to date on what's going on in Rio is through social media.

The United States is sending 555 athletes to Rio for the three-week competition this August, and you can follow Team USA on Snapchat and Instagram.

In addition to Team USA, you can also follow individual athletes whose accounts are inspiring and offer a behind-the-scenes look at everything it takes to be an Olympian while still having fun.

Look out for Snapchat videos of the opening ceremonies and Instagram posts from inside the arenas, and see 27 of our favorite compelling athletes to follow on social media before Rio.

Did we miss your favorite Olympics athlete's social media account? Let us know in the comments!