Evie is a 13-year-old American gymnast who arrives at the 1936 Berlin Olympics with a desperate goal: winning a gold medal to rescue her family from severe poverty. A survivor of the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, she carries the trauma of losing her brother and her home. Feeling alienated from her East Coast teammates, she relies on her fierce independence but remains deeply vulnerable when approached with a dangerous alternative path to securing wealth.

Heinz is a German boy serving as Evie's Youth Services Host for the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Clad in a crisp uniform, he possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of Berlin and serves as the literal poster boy for the Hitler Youth. He eagerly guides Evie through the city, though his persistent presence and cheerful demeanor mask complex personal struggles and secrets he keeps carefully guarded.

Solomon is a cunning British journalist who devises an elaborate plan to rob the Reichsbank in Berlin. Identifying Evie's desperate financial situation, he recruits her to join his international heist team. A cynical survivor who grew up in an orphanage, he believes the world is divided strictly into takers and the powerless, viewing morality as a useless illusion.

Mary is an Olympic equestrian and a famous Hollywood movie star who previously won a gold medal at age 16. Despite her fame, she is grounded and fiercely protective of her friends. She quickly becomes Evie's roommate and mentor, offering worldly wisdom and providing a supportive counterweight to Evie's aloof gymnastics teammates.

Ursula is a Black French diver from the Rhineland with a swimmer's build and a fiercely guarded demeanor. Experiencing severe discrimination due to her blended heritage, she carries deep trauma and harbors a burning desire for retaliation against the regime. She is highly capable and resourcefully carries a concealed knife for protection.

Karl is a powerful German Olympic weightlifter who serves as the muscle and insider for Solomon Monday's heist team, having helped construct the Reichsbank vault. He is gentle and steadfastly loyal. A profound personal tragedy motivates his dangerous actions, as he seeks to fund resistance efforts against the government that imprisoned his partner.

Leni is an ambitious filmmaker hired to create the state-funded documentary covering the 1936 Olympics. Obsessed with aesthetic perfection, she leverages her unlimited access to the Olympic venues to craft powerful propaganda, openly dismissing any interest in documenting the harsh realities of the surrounding environment.

Jesse is a celebrated Black American track-and-field athlete whose presence and historic victories directly challenge the host nation's racist ideology. Facing immense pressure on the world stage, his intense focus and phenomenal athletic ability serve as a profound inspiration to Evie.

Helene is a German fencer of partial Jewish heritage who competes for the host nation. Her presence on the team highlights the complicated and dangerous compromises athletes make, managing the host nation's oppressive rules in an attempt to survive and compete on the world stage.

Connie is a talented American gymnast and Evie's idol. Originating from an East Coast gym, she initially forms a clique with her fellow gymnasts, projecting an aloof and sometimes disapproving attitude toward the Californian newcomer before gradually warming up to her.

Coach Miele is the demanding but supportive head coach of the US women's gymnastics team. He guides the young athletes through high-pressure qualifiers, expecting rigorous focus and dedication during their Olympic performances.

Avery Brundage is the uncompromising head of the American Olympic Committee. He strictly enforces a rule separating politics from sports, aggressively threatening to expel any athlete who voices dissent or creates international friction during the Games.

Gretel is Heinz's older sister and a former national champion high jumper in Germany. Her athletic career was abruptly halted by the regime's discriminatory laws, leaving a lingering shadow over her family's relationship with the Olympic Games.

John is Evie's younger brother whose tragic death from dust pneumonia during the Oklahoma Dust Bowl profoundly shapes Evie's worldview. His memory continuously fuels her desperate ambition to escape poverty at any cost.