Athletes to Watch in Sochi: Men
Viktor Ahn
Country: Russia Age: 28 Born: Seoul, South Korea Past Medals: 3 golds, 1 bronze Discipline: Short Track - 1000, 1500, and 5000 meter races Other: When he failed to qualify in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games for South Korea, Ahn-Hyun Soo earned Russian citizenship, becoming Viktor Ahn, and will compete for Russia in the 2014 Sochi Olympics. |
Shani Davis
Country: United States of America Age: 31 Born: Chicago, Illinois Past Medals: 2 golds, 2 silver Discipline: Speed Skating - 500, 1000, 1500, and 5000 meter races Other: He was the first African American to gain entry to the U.S. Olympic Team in 2002 and was the first American to make it onto both the short track and long track teams in the Junior World Teams. |
Ivan Skobrev
Country: Russia Age: 30 Born: Khabarovsk, Russia Past Medals: 1 silver, 1 bronze Discipline: Speed Skating - 5000, 1500, 10000 meter races, and team pursuit Other: He will be holding the Russian flag at the closing ceremony because of his winning medals that stood out from Russia's somewhat depressing 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. |
John Robert (J.R.) Celski
Country: United States of America Age: 23 Born: Monterey, California Past Medals: 2 bronze Discipline: Short Track - 500, 1000, and 1500 meter races Other: He transferred sports after viewing the 2002 Winter Olympics. Celski changed to become a professional short track speed skater after his involvement in in-line skating. |
Other Major Contenders: Sven Kramer, Patrick Meek, Christopher Creveling, Eddy Alvarez, and Mo Tae-bum
Athletes to Watch in Sochi: Women
Other Major Contenders: Brittany Bowe, Martina Siblikova, Kristina Groves, Stephanie Beckert, Jessica Smith
- http://img.src.ca/2011/12/28/635x357/AFP_111228_lg2wh_ahnhyunsoo_sn635.jpg
- http://www.csmonitor.com/var/archive/storage/images/media/images/2010/0217/shani-217/7411132-1-eng-US/Shani-217.jpg
- http://en.ria.ru/images/16000/94/160009479.jpg
- http://www.nbcolympics.com/sites/nbcolympics.com/files/styles/owg_slideshow_detail_860x485/public/utah.zip_files/UTAH/JR_Celski_Cropped.jpg
- http://www.nbcolympics.com/sites/nbcolympics.com/files/styles/owg_slideshow_detail_860x485/public/heather.zip_files/NUP_156029_1096.jpg?itok=d_vMed4T
- http://www.spox.com/de/sport/mehrsport/wintersport/0901/Bilder/claudia-pechstein-514.jpg
- http://www.powerbar-europe.net/Library/Media/CMS/bildmaterial_inhalt/athleten/FOTO%20PB%20TVM%20Ireen%20Wuest%20wereldkampioen%20allround%20podium%202011-02-14%20DS_zoomview.jpg
- https://lh6.ggpht.com/u53fMbG2SgFf1rbgAwmDu9LC4hjhpVS2wELntrbX_JTlfrVSdR14nZ9IDJexJ5WMs-pFx80=s142