ATHLETES TO WATCH
The Olympic schedule Tuesday includes 10 events in which six gold medals will be decided. Here are some names to know for today’s events:
1. Shaun White (USA): Perhaps the most recognizable name in these Olympics, White will try to get back on the podium after finishing fourth in Sochi. White won gold in 2006 and 2010 and has been showing signs of regaining his past form. If he does come away with another gold medal, it will cement his spot as the best ever in his discipline. 2. Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim (USA): After a brilliant secondplace performance in the team figure skating event, all eyes will be on the U.S. couple. They will be facing a stiff challenge from the Canadian duo of Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford, but the confidence of their team-event finish might be enough to propel them to the medal podium.
3. Mikaela Shiffrin (USA):
Few skiers have been as dominant as Shiffrin over the last couple of years. On Tuesday, she’ll defend her gold from Sochi in the slalom event. Shiffrin has been the leader in World Cup points in the slalom the last two seasons, and it would be a shock for her not to win gold in Pyeongchang.
4. U.S. hockey team: While many bristle at the notion that this group of unknowns bears any resemblance to the “Miracle on Ice” team of 1980, the fact is that this U.S. team is filled with players on the margins of professional hockey. The U.S. opens play with a preliminary-round game against Slovenia at the Kwandong Hockey Centre.
5. Heather Bergsma (USA):
She took first place on this same speedskating track last year in the world single distance championships so Bergsma, 28, is familiar with the surface. While she will compete in other distances during these Games, the 1,000 meters is her strongest event, and she will look to get off to a good start with a podium finish.