When the 2010 Winter Olympics open Friday, the U.S. rosters will include an estimated 200 athletes chasing 258 medals in 10 sports.
Here are 10 of the best U.S. storylines:
When the 2010 Winter Olympics open Friday, the U.S. rosters will include an estimated 200 athletes chasing 258 medals in 10 sports.
Here are 10 of the best U.S. storylines:
Figure skating
Evan Lysacek
The U.S. women figure skaters have medaled in every Olympics since 1964, but this year the American men could steal the show. At 6-2, the lanky figure skater also has a career as a model.
Lysacek’s outfits are often more subdued than the flashier costumes of his competitors. The 2009 world champion, who was second in the recent U.S. Championships to Jeremy Abbott, will likely face a spirited challenge by host-nation favorite Patrick Chan.
Bobsledding
Steven Holcomb
A degenerative eye disease nearly left the bobsledder blind, but surgery after the 2008 World Championships restored Holcomb’s vision and rocketed him to international success. Driving his “Night Train” sled, the Utahan led the U.S. to a rare four-man world title in 2009. The victory ended a 50-year world championship gold medal dry American spell in that event.
Alpine skiing
Lindsey Vonn
Gritty Vonn came from the small hills of Minnesota to become alpine skiing’s dominant star.
After a spectacular training crash at the Turin Games, she surprised teammates and observers by competing in the downhill after her release from an Italian hospital. In 2009, Vonn celebrated a rare World Championship double in the downhill and super-G, but an encounter with a jagged champagne bottle left her with a torn thumb tendon. Again, she didn’t miss a race.
She’ll enter the 2010 Winter Games hurting but on a hot streak.
Skeleton
Katie Uhlaender
A contender in the skeleton, Uhlaender is a two-time World Cup Cup overall winner.
A year ago, her father, former major league baseball player Ted Uhlaender, suffered a heart attack at his Kansas ranch while Katie competed in the final women’s skeleton World Cup competition. She learned after completing her competition – and finishing second – that her father had died.
Alpine skiing
Bode Miller
After Miller’s two silvers in Salt Lake City (giant slalom and combined), many experts were proclaiming the Turin Winter Games as “Miller time.” Instead, he became better known for his partying than his results.
Nonetheless, he remains an unpredictable force on the international scene and was the 2008 overall World Cup champion.
Speedskating
Shani Davis
The reigning gold medalist in men’s 1,000-meter speedskating, Davis returns to the track where he won the 2009 world title in the 1,500 meters. The drama with teammate Chad Hedrick has subsided a bit as Davis’ one-time rival is more likely to find success in the 5,000.
Speedskating
Apolo Anton Ohno
To some, Ohno might be best known for winning “Dancing with the Stars,” but the 27-year-old from Seattle is on the verge of becoming the top speedskater in U.S. history.
The short-track legend enters the games with five medals, tied with 1980 hero Eric Heiden and one behind Bonnie Blair. He’s struck gold in the past two Winter Olympics.
Hockey
Mark Johnson
Cut by his father “Badger Bob” Johnson from the 1976 Olympic hockey team, Johnson starred in the 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” scoring two goals in the historic upset of the Soviet Union.
He’s now the head coach of the powerhouse U.S. women’s team, which is expected to challenge Canada for the gold in one of the fiercest rivalries of the winter games.
Nordic combined
Billy Demong
It’s known in the world of Nordic combined as “Bibgate,” but for the New Yorker it was just an incredible stroke of bad luck. Before the jumping portion of the 2009 World Championships, Demong could not locate his athlete’s bib. He was disqualified and the U.S. team lost his potential points. It turns out the bib slid into the leg of his jumping suit.
In Vancouver, Demong is a strong contender for a medal in the sport that includes cross-country skiing and ski jumping.
Snowboarding
Lindsey Jacobellis
The Vermont snowboarder already has a spot in Olympic lore with her notorious Turin silver. With a big lead toward gold in the snowboard cross, she attempted a flashy move on the final jump. She fell … and watched a Swiss boarder take victory.
Jacobellis is back as a serious contender for gold in Vancouver.
