NICK GOEPPERU.S.
Six years after building a jumping park in his backyard in Indiana, the 19-year-old took gold in the ski slopestyle competition at the X Games last January.
DENIS TENKAZAKHSTAN
The 20-year-old Kazakh-born, Russian-raised, U.S.-trained great-grandson of a Korean general was a surprise silver medalist at the World Figure Skating Championships last March. He'll be among the favorites.
LARA GUTSWITZERLAND
The 22-year-old Alpiner placed a career-high ninth in the overall World Cup standings last season and has won races in all three disciplines (downhill, giant slalom and Super-G) this year.
JULIA LIPNITSKAIARUSSIA
The 2012 world junior champ finished second to Vancouver silver medalist Mao Asada at a Grand Prix event last weekend and at just 15 could become the second Russian to medal in ladies' figure skating.
SIN DA-WOONSOUTH KOREA
The latest star in a line of great Korean short-track skaters, the 20-year-old won the overall title and individual golds in the 1,000 and 1,500 meters at the world championships last March.
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SIMON BRUTY/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (GOEPPER)
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RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY IMAGES (TEN)
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MICHEL COTTIN/AGENCE ZOOM/GETTY IMAGES (GUT)
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DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES (LIPNITSKAIA)
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LASZLO BALOGH/REUTERS (SIN)
