The 2014 Winter Olympics is quickly approaching and after winning 37 medals in 2010, the United States will look to repeat that success. On Feb. 6, the best athletes in the world will come together to compete in a series of Olympic events in order to find success for their home countries. The 2014 Olympics will be the 22nd Winter Olympics and will be held in Sochi, Russia.

Over the years, many athletes from Minnesota have contributed to the United States Winter Olympics team due to the wide range of winter sports the state has to offer. Some of the sports that athletes will be competing in include curling, hockey, figure skating, cross country and alpine skiing, snowboarding, and more.  Many athletes have already been selected to wear the red, white, and blue, however most of the athletes will not be officially named until January.

In preparation for the 2014 Winter Olympics, The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) began their 100-day countdown to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games. According to Jhaton Robinson, writer for Vibe Media, athletes took time to sign autographs and also put on a mini show in New York. Many fans as well as 56 Olympians and Paralympians attended this huge event.

Be sure to watch the news as more and more updates come out about the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Curling

The United States women’s curling team is led by 2010 Olympian Allison Pottinger from Eden Prairie, MN. The women’s team also includes fellow 2010 Olympians Natalie Nicholson from Bemidji, MN and Tabitha Peterson from Eagan, MN.

According to the Star Tribune, many Olympic veterans from the men’s team are being recruited to return for the 2014 games. One of these veterans is 2006 bronze medalist Pete Fenson from Bemidji, MN.  Fenson is a nine-time U.S. champion, and was the runner-up at the 2012 Nationals tournament.

Hockey

Hockey hasn’t begun their selection process yet, but according to SB-Nation, the men’s hockey coaches will use the current NHL season to help select players. Most of the national teams have said that the opening months of the NHL season will be the key factor in deciding who makes the cut. The roster for the men’s team will be announced during the Winter Classic on Jan. 1, 2014.

On the women’s side, eight hockey players from Minnesota are top choices for the 2014 Women’s Hockey team. According to the Star Tribune, the women’s team will be led by four-time Olympian, Jenny Potter from Edina, Minnesota. Other potential players include current Gophers Amanda Kessel, Megan Bozek, and Hannah Brandt.

Figure Skating

2010 Olympic figure skater Mark Ladwig of Moorhead, MN will be representing the U.S. in figure skating. Ladwig placed 10th in the 2010 Winter Olympics with his skating partner Amanda Evora. Evora has since retired, so Ladwig is currently looking for a new partner.

Skiing

Alpine skier and three-time Olympian Lindsey Vonn of Burnsville, is expected to recover from a knee injury before the 2014 Winter Olympics. Vonn tore the ACL and MCL ligaments in her right knee during a race last February. Kaylin Richardson from Minneapolis, MN will return to compete in 2014 after finishing 17th in the women’s super combined in 2010.

According to NBC Olympics, Caitlin Compton, a current resident of Minneapolis, is the only member of the US cross-country skiing team to have competed in two different World Championship events.  In 2007 and 2009, Compton represented the U.S. at the Nordic Worlds in cross-country skiing. Compton also competed at the 2008 Biathlon Worlds.