Sochi 2014: Olympic Athletes to Watch

Guys, it's time.

The Winter Olympics, my second favorite Olympics, is TWO DAYS AWAY! Are you as excited as I am?!

If we're having real talk right now, my excitement and knowledge about this upcoming Olympics is definitely lacking, at least compared to my usual research and anticipation. The Summer Olympics holds my heart, forever and always. I just get those sports so much more. Who would choose to spend most of their time in the frigid winter cold? But I do love watching people do things they're really good at, and the Winter Olympics is full of that kind of thing, so I'm totally into it. Plus, as I say each Olympics, how can I not watch something where my loyalties for a specific team are insanely intense, even if I don't know any of the players beforehand? Something about cheering USA! and tearing up over Visa commercials just gets to me, you know?

In all honesty, I'm more concerned that the Olympics will be focused more on the safety and (possible lack of) security for the athletes than on the athletes themselves. Because so far, I'm not feeling super confident about how safe Sochi's looking right now. But who knows? It's Russia - our media could be making a bigger deal about this than necessary, in advance?

At any rate, assuming the figurative heart of our country - the US Olympic Team - makes it safe and sound to, and through, the Olympics, we've got some people to start caring about!

So, I know you've all been waiting for this - here is my short-list of some of the Athletes To Watch:

Shani Davis, Speed Skating
Guys, I just really like Shani. I cheered for him in 2010. I cheer for him in 2014. He's won gold in the last 2 Olympics for the 1000m race. If he wins again this year, he'll be the 1st American to win the same event 3 Olympics in a row! (If he does it before Shaun White competes, if we want to get technical here...). He's just so tall and so fast and so good and I love him. That's really all. I just really love him.

Alex Ovechkin, Russia, Hockey
I know. He's Russian. Playing on the Russian Hockey Team. I can't cheer for the Russians in Hockey. It's against my nature immediately after watching Miracle. BUT. But. Ovechkin is also a DC hero - he normally plays for the Washington Capitals, and he's been the NHL MVP 3 times as a Capital. He basically is the Washington Capitals. He's just really good, you guys, and while I can't cheer for the Russian hockey team overall, I will cheer for Ovechkin. He's just so fun to watch. I can't ignore pure talent, y'all.

But don't worry. I watched Miracle last week, so I'm all about America. Kate Barlow, Washington DC! Who do you play for? I play for... ... ... The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!

Jamie Anderson, USA, Slopestyle
So, Slopestyle is a thing. And it's kind of awesome. And Jamie's awesome at it. She's got a smooth style to her and has some great tricks to pull out on the course. I wish I could sound cooler here by whipping out sweet snowboarding terminology here, but let's be real: I don't know the first thing about the technical aspect of snowboarding. I just know I snowboarded once in my life, down the bunny hill all day, and thought it was really cool and pretty fun, but I could never master the chair lift, so my winter sports career never really took off...but Jamie's career is pretty impressive so far, and I'm excited to learn the sport a little bit more while watching her nab gold!

Jamaican Bobsled Team, Jamaica, Bobsledding
Duh.
It's not the 4-man team the beloved movie has made us always look for. But the 2-man bobsled team has also overcome its share of obstacles to get to Sochi. Namely, monetary obstacles. But they should be kissing the feet of the director of that classic film, because when people found out there wasn't enough money to get the bobsledders to the Olympics, people jumped and donated thousands of dollars in online campaigns to help them get there. Thanks Internet! They're probably not expected to really compete for the gold - but you never know. You just never know.

Gracie Gold, Figure Skating - her name is Gold. Gold, you guys! That's a lot of expectation for an athlete in the Olympics. But this girl can probably handle the pressure. She's the 2nd-best US female figure skater on our team, according to the results of the US Championships, where she went from 9th to 2nd! So we know she can battle and pull off greatness when she needs to. She's a cute girl, and I think she'll be fun to watch. Also, fun fact: when she gets nervous before skating, she juggles to calm herself down. I love it! I am now jealous of two talents she has that I lack...

Danny Davis, USA, Snowboarding
Danny is the "old man" of the snowboarding world. He was supposed to be a big name at the 2010 Olympics, but just before the competition, he seriously injured himself from drinking and driving an ATV...so we didn't get to cheer him on then. Very stupid mistake now in the past, he's surprised everyone by making it on to the US Olympic team. Despite being one of the older guys in a sport dominated by young guns, it turns out that he's still rather spry and daring. He puts a lot of effort into doing things technically perfect - because if it isn't, why do it? He wasn't an athlete we were supposed to see in Sochi, and so that's exactly why I will be watching for him. I love a good surprise! And with an X Games gold medal taking him into the Olympics, I think we won't be the only ones watching him.

Women's Hockey Team, USA, Hockey
Guys, The Women's Hockey portion of the Olympics for the last 16 years may well just be re-titled, "USA vs. Canada, live at [insert Olympic city here]." Those two teams have dominated the competition for years, and then they meet in the Gold Medal round. And for the last 3 Olympics, the Canadians have walked away champions. And I'm sick of it. I don't know about you all, but I'm just really feeling it this year - this is USA's year. This is the year the women of the red, white, AND blue take back what is rightfully theirs: Olympic gold.

Hamelin Brothers, Canada, Speed Skating
Mainly I love them just because of this video. I love them and their mother. Brothers! In the Olympics! Together! So much familial love. I can't handle it.



Okay. I know I've missed at least half of the sports/competitions in the Olympics. I could only cover a handful of athletes. There are so many competitions I'm excited for: Skeleton (freaks me out), Luge, Curling, Ski Jumping. And so many athletes I will hear stories about and suddenly become their #1 fan. But for now, this is what I can offer in the run-up to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

I wonder if any of you have been following a specific athlete or sport? Is there someone you'll be watching closely? Recommendations for me? Any P&G athletes videos you consider a must-see? (Amy Purdy and Marinela Mazilu were two favorites of mine)