The 2022 Olympic Winter Games start Friday, February 4th ! There’s been some pretty interesting
reporting lately covering challenges that are specific to these particular games, including
legitimate fears of testing positive for the virus right before competition (talk about dashed
dreams!), and questions raised about how Chinese law may impact freedom of speech for
athletes. But putting geopolitical concerns aside, today’s topic focuses on what we love most
about these events – the incredible athletes! We’ve narrowed in on some who we’re especially
excited to see in their element.

Skating

It is cliché to highlight skating at the Winter Games but we’re suckers for redemption. Nathan
Chen flaked on his short program in 2018 (it happens) but then threw 6 quadruple jumps in the
free skate (because he can) to make up for it. Placing 5 th as an individual and getting a team
Bronze in 2018 is not shabby, but for a guy who is only 22 and has won the past 6 (!) US
Nationals, this guy deserves a good spot on that Beijing podium. According to this article, since
the 2018 French Grand Prix final, he has landed 120 competition jumps of all types without a
fall, including 50 quads. I’m sorry, but who does that?!

Curling

Ok, curling and excited don’t go in the same sentence, but get this: John Shuster is going back to
the Winter Games for the 5 th time (um, that’s 20 years of super high-level deep lunges). In
Beijing, he defends what he led in 2018, the first American team to ever win Gold in curling. We
especially admire the specialized body positions of these athletes; if you watch elite curling these
days, the hip mobility and leg power and drive is crazy impressive.

Skiing

Alpine: Mikaela Shiffrin just keeps upping the ante. In late November 2021, she tied the
most World Cup wins in a single discipline (women’s slalom, tying the great Ingemar Stenmark
of Sweden at 46). Now with a total of 72 world cup victories, it’s safe to say she will be one to
watch in Beijing! Slalom is a test of turning ability (navigating those gates), at a speed where
reaction time (and knee mobility!) needs to be on point. Giant slalom speeds hover around
50mph – and up to 80mph for the Super-G!
Cross-country: Jessie Diggins helped earn the US its first ever Gold in Olympic cross-
country skiing in 2018, and has since captured the 2020-21 Tour de Ski and overall FIS World
Cup titles. Jessie has our heart with her activism; since 2019, she has been a vocal advocate for
eating disorders among female athletes. Shout out to Jessica Bartley, US Director of Mental
Health services, and her team who are all doing amazing work to support Olympic/Paralympic
Athlete mental health! Also, we just have to note, cross country (Nordic) skiers have some of the
highest VO 2 Max recordings of any endurance athlete. VO 2 Max is basically how you measure
aerobic endurance fitness, so to say these athletes are in amazing cardiovascular shape is an
understatement!

Snow Boarding

Shaun White is the record holder of the most Olympic Golds (3) in snowboarding with wins in
Torino 2006, Vancouver 2010 and PyeongChang 2018. This San Diego native is better known in
some circles for his skateboarding prowess, and actually bowed out of that sport prior to Tokyo
2020 to focus on Beijing. Half-pipe scoring ranges 1-100, based on overall impression of
amplitude, difficulty, variety, execution and progression. Make of it what you will, imagine
doing anything that’s graceful at 30mph, flipping and twisting off a 22ft ramp!
Sorry if we’ve missed your faves, hopefully no hard feelings. Such a fun few weeks ahead!