ATHLETES TO WATCH
Marcel Hirscher (AUT): With a gold in the Alpine combined event already in his possession, Hirscher is looking to add to his medal haul in the giant slalom. Hirscher finished fourth in both the Sochi and Vancouver Games in the giant slalom, but he has dominated the event in the World Cup season and is the defending world champion in the event.
Ted Ligety (USA):
Ligety is the top American challenger to Hirscher and the best chance for a U.S. medal in the giant slalom. He is the defending gold medalist in the event but has had an inconsistent start to these Games, with a fifth place in the Alpine combined and failing to finish the super-G. This will be Ligety’s best chance at a medal at these Games.
Nick Goepper (USA):
The bronze medalist in men’s ski slopestyle in Sochi, the 23-year-old is peaking. He ranks among the world’s best in ski slopestyle and appears past the personal issues that could have derailed his career after he burst on the scene four years ago in Sochi. Goepper entered rehab in 2014 and battled depression, and attributes his recent success to the strength of his family.
Anton Kushnir (BLR):
Kushnir won gold in Sochi in men’s aerials and is the favorite to repeat here in Pyeongchang. He would become the first multiple gold medalist in men’s aerials in Winter Olympic history and the second athlete from Belarus to win multiple Winter Olympic gold medals.
Jacqueline Loelling
(GER): The German 23year-old is in first place after the preliminary runs in the skeleton and is a good spot to win a gold medal in her Olympics debut. She is reigning world champion in skeleton and at her young age looks like the dominant figure in the event for many years to come.