MEDAL PICKS
Alpine Skiing
MEN
Downhill
• Didier Cuche, Switzerland
• Manuel Osborne-Paradis, Canada
• Carlo Janka, Switzerland
Cuche, 35, history's oldest world champ, will ski with a broken thumb.
Super Giant Slalom
• Michael Walchhofer, Austria
• Aksel Lund Svindal, Norway
• Didier Cuche, Switzerland
Walchhofer, 34, works at his family's hotel in Zauchensee.
Combined
• Ivica Kostelíc, Croatia
• Benjamin Raich, Austria
• Bode Miller, U.S.
Kostelíc's younger sister, Janica, won six Olympic Alpine medals.
Giant Slalom
• Benjamin Raich, Austria
• Ted Ligety, U.S.
• Marcel Hirscher, Austria
Raich lost the 2009 overall World Cup title to Svindal by two points.
Slalom
• Julien Lizeroux, France
• Reinfried Herbst, Austria
• Ivica Kostelíc, Croatia
Lizeroux's brother Yoann died while base jumping in Switzerland in 2008.
WOMEN
Downhill
• Lindsey Vonn, U.S.
• Maria Riesch, Germany
• Anja P√§rson, Sweden
Seventeen of Vonn's 31 World Cup wins have been in the downhill.
Super Giant Slalom
• Lindsey Vonn, U.S.
• Fabienne Suter, France
• Andrea Fischbacher, Austria
Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria won downhill and Super G in Turin.
Combined
• Anja P√§rson, Sweden
• Maria Riesch, Germany
• Elisabeth G√∂rgl, Austria
Pärson leads active Alpine skiers with 40 World Cup wins.
Giant Slalom
• Kathrin H√∂lzl, Germany
• Tina Maze, Slovenia
• Tanja Poutiainen, Finland
Hölzl has 19 top 10 World Cup finishes, all in giant slalom.
Slalom
• Maria Riesch, Germany
• Sandrine Aubert, France
• Kathrin Zettel, Austria
Vonn and Riesch are best pals.
Biathlon
MEN
10K Sprint
• Ole Einar Bj√∏rndalen, Norway
• Dominik Landertinger, Austria
• Simon Fourcade, France
Bj√∏rndalen won this in 1998 and '02.
12.5K Pursuit
• Dominik Landertinger, Austria
• Ole Einar Bj√∏rndalen, Norway
• Arnd Peiffer, Germany
Austria's team has been rebuilt since a drug scandal in Turin.
15K Mass Start
• Evgeny Ustyugov, Russia
• Emil Hegle Svendsen, Norway
• Ole Einar Bj√∏rndalen, Norway
Svendsen, 24, is looking like the next Bj√∏rndalen.
20K Individual
• Sergei Sednev, Ukraine
• Daniel Mesotitsch, Austria
• Christoph Sumann, Austria
Tim Burke of Paul Smiths, N.Y., should contend.
4 √ó 7.5K Relay
• Norway
• Austria
• Russia
Russia (or the USSR) has medaled in the relay in 10 of the last 11 Games.
WOMEN
7.5K Sprint
• Kati Wilhelm, Germany
• Anna Carin Olofsson-Zidek, Sweden
• Magdalena Neuner, Germany
Wilhelm has won three golds and three silvers in two Olympics.
10K Pursuit
• Helena Jonsson, Sweden
• Andrea Henkel, Germany
• Magdalena Neuner, Germany
Jonsson's dad charged her 10¢ per miss in childhood shooting practice.
12.5K Mass Start
• Andrea Henkel, Germany
• Helena Jonsson, Sweden
• Simone Hauswald, Germany
Henkel's sister, Manuela, won cross-country gold in 2002.
15K Individual
• Helena Jonsson, Sweden
• Anna Carin Olofsson-Zidek, Sweden
• Magdalena Neuner, Germany
Olofsson-Zidek competed while pregnant in 2008.
4 √ó 6K Relay
• Russia
• Germany
• Sweden
Germany has the versatile Neuner, but Russia is the world champ.
Bobsled
MEN
Two-man
• Beat Hefti & Thomas Lamparter, Switzerland
• André Lange & Kevin Kuske, Germany
• Thomas Florsch√ºtz & Marc K√ºhne, Germany
Florsch√ºtz's brother André could win luge gold.
Four-man
• Germany (driver: André Lange)
• U.S. (driver: Steve Holcomb)
• Switzerland (driver: Ivo R√ºegg)
U.S. is seeking first gold since 1948.
WOMEN
Two-woman
• Cathleen Martini & Romy Logsch, Germany
• Shauna Rohbock & Michelle Rzepka, U.S.
• Kaillie Humphries & Heather Moyse, Canada
In Turin, Rohbock won silver with Valerie Fleming, now injured.
Cross-Country Skiing
MEN
1.4K Sprint (classical)
• Emil J√∂nsson, Sweden
• Ola Vigen Hattestad, Norway
• Nikita Kriukov, Russia
Three of Jönsson's four World Cup wins have come in Canada.
Team Sprint (freestyle)
• Norway
• Russia
• Sweden
Turin finish: Sweden, Norway, Russia.
15K Freestyle
• Matti Heikkinen, Finland
• Vincent Vittoz, France
• Petter Northug Jr., Norway
No Finn has won this event since 1964.
30K Pursuit
• Petter Northug Jr., Norway
• Lukas Bauer, Czech Republic
• Marcus Hellner, Sweden
Northug, the sport's trash talker, won three golds at 2009 worlds.
50K Mass Start (classical)
• Lukas Bauer, Czech Republic
• Maxim Vylegzhanin, Russia
• Alexander Legkov, Russia
In 2006 the top eight finishers were just 3.3 seconds apart.
4 √ó 10K Relay
• Norway
• Russia
• Germany
Reigning champ Italy has fallen on hard times.
WOMEN
1.2K Sprint (classic)
• Petra Majdic, Slovenia
• Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland
• Aino-Kaisa Saarinen, Finland
Saarinen's twin sister, Maija, also skied for Finland.
Team Sprint (freestyle)
• Sweden
• Italy
• Slovenia
Sweden won this event in 2006.
10K Freestyle
• Marit Bjoergen, Norway
• Charlotte Kalla, Sweden
• Irina Khazova, Russia
A Swedish woman last won individual cross-country gold in '68.
15K Pursuit
• Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland
• Aino-Kaisa Saarinen, Finland
• Petra Majdic, Slovenia
Kowalczyk has seven World Cup victories this season.
30K Mass Start (classical)
• Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland
• Marit Bjoergen, Norway
• Anna Haag, Sweden
Kowalczyk had a steroid suspension rescinded in 2005.
4 √ó 5K Relay
• Sweden
• Norway
• Finland
None of these three medaled in '06.
Curling
MEN
• Great Britain
• Canada
• Norway
The Canadians won in Turin; the Brits took the '09 worlds.
WoMEN
• Canada
• China
• Denmark
China is making its Olympic debut in this event.
Figure Skating
MEN
• Evgeni Plushenko, Russia
• Patrick Chan, Canada
• Evan Lysacek, U.S.
Turin gold medalist Plushenko is back after a three-year retirement.
WOMEN
• Kim Yu-na, South Korea
• Mao Asada, Japan
• Joannie Rochette, Canada
Asada's national rival Miki Ando is also a threat.
Pairs
• Shen Xue & Zhao Hongbo, China
• Pang Qing & Tong Jian, China
• Alona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy, Germany
Russians (or Soviets) have won every gold in this since 1964.
Dance
• Meryl Davis & Charlie White, U.S.
• Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, Canada
• Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto, U.S.
Davis and White train in Michigan with Virtue and Moir.
Freestyle Skiing
MEN
Aerials
• Anton Kushnir, Belarus
• Qi Guangpu, China
• Jia Zongyang, China
Kushnir has won a medal in all six World Cup events this season.
Moguls
• Dale Begg-Smith, Australia
• Guilbaut Colas, France
• Jesper Bj√∂rnlund, Sweden
World champ Patrick Deneen of the U.S. has a shot.
Skicross
• Michael Schmid, Switzerland
• Chris Del Bosco, Canada
• Andreas Matt, Austria
The father of Colorado native Del Bosco is Canadian.
WOMEN
Aerials
• Lydia Lassila, Australia
• Li Nina, China
• Zhang Xin, China
Lassila blew out her knee on a qualifying jump in Turin.
Moguls
• Jennifer Heil, Canada
• Heather McPhie, U.S.
• Hannah Kearney, U.S.
Lake Tahoe's Shannon Bahrke could also climb the podium.
Skicross
• Ophelie David, France
• Ashleigh McIvor, Canada
• Kelsey Serwa, Canada
Corsica native David, 33, skied on Hungary's Alpine team in 1994.
Hockey
MEN
• Canada
• Russia
• Czech Republic
Goalie Ryan Miller gives the U.S. a chance.
WOMEN
• Canada
• U.S.
• Finland
Canada and the U.S. have faced off in all 12 world championship finals.
Luge
MEN
Singles
• Armin Z√∂ggeler, Italy
• Albert Demchenko, Russia
• Felix Loch, Germany
Zöggeler has five world titles and four Olympic medals.
Doubles
• André Florsch√ºtz & Torsten Wustlich, Germany
• Patric Leitner & Alexander Resch, Germany
• Christian Oberstolz & Patrick Gruber, Italy
The Linger brothers of Austria won in Turin and could contend again.
WOMEN
Singles
• Tatjana H√ºfner, Germany
• Natalie Geisenberger, Germany
• Erin Hamlin, U.S.
Hüfner clinched her third overall World Cup title last month.
Nordic Combined
Normal Hill
• Jason Lamy Chappuis, France
• Magnus Moan, Norway
• Felix Gottwald, Austria
U.S.'s Bill Demong, Todd Lodwick or Johnny Spillane could medal.
Large Hill
• Magnus Moan, Norway
• Jason Lamy Chappuis, France
• Tino Edelmann, Germany
Moan (MOO-ahn) was born in the '94 Olympic host city, Lillehammer.
Team (large hill, 4 √ó 5K freestyle)
• Germany
• U.S.
• Norway
The U.S. has never won an Olympic Nordic combined medal.
Skeleton
MEN
• Martins Dukurs, Latvia
• Frank Rommel, Germany
• Jon Montgomery, Canada
Dukurs's older brother, Tomass, is also a medal threat.
WOMEN
• Kerstin Szymkowiak, Germany
• Mellisa Hollingsworth, Canada
• Anja Huber, Germany
Growing up on an Alberta ranch, Hollingsworth was a barrel racer.
Ski Jumping
Normal Hill
• Gregor Schlierenzauer, Austria
• Simon Ammann, Switzerland
• Wolfgang Loitzl, Austria
Ammann won double gold in '02.
Large Hill
• Simon Ammann, Switzerland
• Gregor Schlierenzauer, Austria
• Thomas Morgenstern, Austria
Morgenstern's uncle Alois finished seventh in the slalom in 1976.
Team
• Austria
• Norway
• Finland
Four of the world's top five jumpers are Austrian.
Snowboarding
MEN
Halfpipe
• Shaun White, U.S.
• Iouri Podladtchikov, Switzerland
• Scotty Lago, U.S.
Louie Vito from the U.S. could also contend for a medal.
Parallel Giant Slalom
• Jasey-Jay Anderson, Canada
• Benjamin Karl, Austria
• Andreas Prommegger, Austria
Anderson runs a blueberry farm in Quebec.
Snowboardcross
• Pierre Vaultier, France
• Nate Holland, U.S.
• Graham Watanabe, U.S.
Last week, Holland won the X Games snowboardcross for the fifth time in five years.
WOMEN
Halfpipe
• Kelly Clark, U.S.
• Gretchen Bleiler, U.S.
• Torah Bright, Australia
Bright, a Mormon, lives in Utah and appears in an Xbox game.
Parallel Giant Slalom
• Nicolien Sauerbreij, Netherlands
• Fraenzi Maegert-Kohli, Switzerland
• Amelie Kober, Germany
World Cup champ in 2008--09, Kober is training to be a police chief.
Snowboardcross
• Maelle Ricker, Canada
• Lindsey Jacobellis, U.S.
• Helene Olafsen, Norway
Jacobellis hot-dogged her way out of gold in Turin.
Long-Track Speedskating
MEN
500 Meters
• Lee Kang-seok, South Korea
• Keiichiro Nagashima, Japan
• Lee Kyou-hyuk, South Korea
Tucker Fredricks is the U.S. hope.
1,000 Meters
• Shani Davis, U.S.
• Lee Kyou-hyuk, South Korea
• Denny Morrison, Canada
Lee is in his fifth Olympics, but has yet to win a medal.
1,500 Meters
• Shani Davis, U.S.
• Denny Morrison, Canada
• Chad Hedrick, U.S.
Hedrick dealt Davis his only season loss in the 1,500.
5,000 Meters
• Sven Kramer, Netherlands
• Enrico Fabris, Italy
• Bob de Jong, Netherlands
Kramer hasn't lost a 5K since Fabris beat him in 2007.
10,000 Meters
• Sven Kramer, Netherlands
• H√•vard B√∏kko, Norway
• Alexis Contin, France
Kramer's father, Yep, skated at the 1980 and '84 Olympics.
Team Pursuit
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Canada
U.S. chances suffer without Davis, who chose to skip the team event.
WOMEN
500 Meters
• Jenny Wolf, Germany
• Lee Sang-hwa, South Korea
• Wang Beixing, China
Wang has been living and training in Canada.
1,000 Meters
• Christine Nesbitt, Canada
• Sayuri Yoshii, Japan
• Annette Gerritsen, Netherlands
Nesbitt was born in Australia.
1,500 Meters
• Christine Nesbitt, Canada
• Kristina Groves, Canada
• Ireen Wust, Netherlands
A lane violation cost Groves world gold in 2009.
3,000 Meters
• Martina Sàblíkovà, Czech Republic
• Stephanie Beckert, Germany
• Kristina Groves, Canada
Sàblíkovà's brother Milan skates for the Czech national team.
5,000 Meters
• Martina Sàblíkovà, Czech Republic
• Stephanie Beckert, Germany
• Daniela Anschuetz-Thoms, Germany
Sàblíkovà won 5K world titles in 2007, '08 and '09.
Team Pursuit
• Canada
• Germany
• Netherlands
Russia and Japan will make this a wide-open race.
Short-Track Speedskating
MEN
500 Meters
• Charles Hamelin, Canada
• Kwak Yoon-gy, South Korea
• Apolo Ohno, U.S.
Hamelin's dad, Yves, heads Canada's national program.
1,000 Meters
• Lee Jung-su, South Korea
• Apolo Ohno, U.S.
• Charles Hamelin, Canada
A four-skater crash may have cost Ohno gold in the 1,000 in '02.
1,500 Meters
• Lee Ho-suk, South Korea
• Lee Jung-su, South Korea
• Sung Si-bak, South Korea
Lee Ho-suk won three medals in Turin.
5,000 Meter Relay
• South Korea
• Canada
• China
South Korea beat Canada by a blade length in 2006.
WOMEN
500 Meters
• Wang Meng, China
• Kalyna Roberge, Canada
• Zhao Nannan, China
The mother of tiny (5' 3") Roberge hails from tiny Mauritius.
1,000 Meters
• Wang Meng, China
• Zhou Yang, China
• Lee Eun-byul, South Korea
Wang has won 14 world titles.
1,500 Meters
• Zhou Yang, China
• Lee Eun-byul, South Korea
• Katherine Reutter, U.S.
South Koreans won both gold and silver in 2002 and '06.
3,000 Meter Relay
• China
• South Korea
• Canada
The U.S. quartet could win a medal.
Projected Medal Count
For the second straight Winter Games, and the third time in the last four, Germany will come out on top
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COUNTRY | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE | TOTAL | 2006 TOTAL (RANK) |
GERMANY | 11 | 11 | 13 | 35 | 29 (1) |
CANADA | 10 | 11 | 9 | 30 | 24 (3) |
U.S. | 7 | 10 | 10 | 27 | 25 (2) |
NORWAY | 7 | 10 | 5 | 22 | 19 (6) |
AUSTRIA | 5 | 7 | 10 | 22 | 23 (4) |
SWEDEN | 6 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 14 (T-7) |
CHINA | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 11 (T-9) |
SOUTH KOREA | 5 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 11 (T-9) |
RUSSIA | 3 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 22 (5) |
FRANCE | 4 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 9 (T-12) |
SWITZERLAND | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 14 (T-7) |
THE NETHERLANDS | 4 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 9 (T-12) |
FINLAND | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 9 (T-12) |
The Master
OLE EINAR BJ√òRNDALEN
Norway, Biathlon
He's a bit obsessive—gargling daily with cognac and religiously sanitizing his hands so that he won't get sick—but attention to detail has helped make him the greatest biathlete ever. The 36-year-old Bj√∏rndalen has more World Cup victories (92) than any other winter-sport athlete in history, and in Vancouver he'll add to his stockpile of nine Olympic medals, five of which are gold.
The Queen in Waiting
KIM YU-NA,South Korea, Figure Skating
No South Korean figure skater has won an Olympic medal, but the 19-year-old world champion, also known as Queen Kim, appears sure to change that. Since 2008 she has won nine of 11 competitions, many by huge margins. Her nation's biggest celebrity, the willowy, 5'4" Kim has escaped the spotlight by training in Toronto for the last three seasons under two-time Canadian Olympic silver medalist Brian Orser. Kim has it all—speed, jumps, musicality, class and sass. Her James Bond--themed short program is one for the ages. Still, she'll have to overcome an Olympic jinx: No women's favorite has won gold since Oksana Baiul in 1994.
The Internet Mogul
DALE BEGG-SMITH,Australia, Moguls Skiing
Under other circumstances, he'd be defending his Olympic title for Canada as a hometown hero. But Begg-Smith, 25, a Vancouver-born skiing and computer whiz, left the national junior team at age 15 after coaches said his business ventures were distracting him. He moved Down Under, got rich from his multiple web-marketing companies and, as a new citizen, won gold for Australia in 2006—a feat honored with an Aussie postage stamp. The Lamborghini-driving Begg-Smith won't talk about his businesses, which have been accused of producing Internet spam, but they aren't a distraction: He's won three overall World Cup titles.
The Short Stopper
WANG MENG,China, Short-Track Speedskating
Perhaps it was boredom from winning over and over again that turned the world's best short-track speedskater into a hot dog at a World Cup event in Marquette, Mich., in November. With her relay team well ahead on the final lap, Wang, 24, left her arms on her back, stood straight up and stared over her shoulder at her pursuers. The showboating, which nearly cost her team—she edged South Korea's Kim Min-jung by .001 of a second—was uncharacteristic but her quest for excitement wasn't. Wang, who won a medal of each color in Turin, is an adrenaline freak. She hopes to get a sports car after her success in Vancouver, where a four-race sweep is within her grasp.
PHOTO
Photograph by OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
PHOTO
JED JACOBSOHN/GETTY IMAGES
LINDSEY JACOBELLIS U.S., snowboardcross medal pick
PHOTO
TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
PHOTO
MAX ROSSI/REUTERS
PHOTO
KIYOSHI OTA/GETTY IMAGES