Today marks the beginning of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where hundreds of elite athletes from countries around the globe have gathered to show their skills on the world's biggest stage. While the 2010 U.S. Olympic team features many medal favorites poised to honor their country, here are five of the most intriguing American athletes to watch.
1. Lindsey Vonn: The downhill skier has been become infamous in recent weeks for consecutive appearances in Sports Illustrated, including the magazine's latest swimsuit issue. But she brings far more than just sex appeal. A 25−year−old Minnesota native, Vonn has emerged as the best female downhill skier in the world, winning the past two World Cup overall championships. Also, as the reigning world champion in the downhill and super−G events, she will be the favorite in three downhill skiing events in Vancouver.
That is assuming she overcomes her ailments. Vonn has been nagged by a right shin injury which, she admitted, forced her to consider skipping the Games. All systems seem to be go, however. And if she lives up to the expectations, Vonn could become one of the most decorated American female winter Olympians of all time and prove that her ability to rock a swimsuit pales in comparison to her skills on the slopes.
2. Shani Davis: Four years after becoming the first African American to win an individual gold medal in the Winter Olympics, Davis will be a favorite in two speedskating events: the 1,000− and 1,500−meter races. The 27−year−old Chicago native currently holds the world record in both events and will be defending his 2006 Gold Medal in the 1,000.
If Davis is able to claim gold in both of his signature races, he will become the first do so since Canada's Gaetan Boucher in the 1984 Sarajevo Games. And Davis has a reputation of not being very friendly to the media, so a couple of gold medals could go a long way in repairing his image with the American public.
3. Shaun White: After taking home the halfpipe gold in the 2006 Olympics, White has only increased his stranglehold on snowboard supremacy in the last four years. This year, White won four out of five U.S Grand Prix events and also took the gold in January's Winter X Games.
Still only 23 years old, White continues to be an innovator, unveiling the "Whitesnake" (a double Mctwist 1260 featuring two vertical flips, to be exact) this year at the Grand Prix in Park City, Utah. Barring an unforeseen injury, it looks like America's favorite redhead will soar once again to great heights in Vancouver.
4. Katherine Reutter: The 21−year−old speedskater will be a major threat in the two events that Davis dominates on the men's side: the 1,000− and 1,500−meter races. In her first ever Olympic appearance, Reutter hopes to continue the success that she has had at the World Cup series, where she racked up three silver medals in 2009. Reutter is also the two−time defending U.S ladies short track champion and plans to show the world that, while she is young, she is ready to make her mark.
5. Apolo Ohno: No list of potential U.S star performers would be complete without this soul−patched superstar, as he has racked up five career Olympic medals over the past two Winter Games and added nine golds in World Championship competition. The 2007 "Dancing with the Stars" champion, who has won an Olympic medal in every distance, will be a threat in a variety of events in Vancouver, including the 500− and 1000−meter events, and as always will be one of the most recognizable faces on the American team.
