The former inline skater from North Carolina is one of the most promising medal hopes for the Americans, after missing the medals in three races at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. She could medal in all three of her races (she’s won World Cup medals in each this season), but the real drama will come in the 1,000 - her best event and the one in which she figures to battle for gold with teammate and good friend Brittany Bowe.
Twitter: @HLynnRichardson
Brittany Bowe
The world-record holder in the 1,000 meters could be a breakout star. A former inline skater from Florida, she switched to the ice just 3 ½ years ago after a college basketball career at Florida Atlantic, and has blossomed into one of the world’s best. She could medal in the 1,500, too, but the 1,000 is her best race. She has a gold, two silvers and a bronze in four World Cup races at that distance this season.
Twitter: @BrittanyBowe
Maria Lamb
A two-time Olympian, Lamb qualified for her spot in the 5,000 meters just two days after being treated in an emergency room for a throat infection. She’s hoping for a better outcome in her third Olympic trip - she was 24th in the 1,500 meters in 2006, and last among 15 finishers in the 5,000 in 2010 - but faces an uphill battle. Her all-time best mark would not rank among the world’s top 20 this season. Website
Twitter: @MariaTLamb
Tucker Fredricks
The three-time Olympian is seeking a redemptive performance in his 500-meter specialty in Sochi, after finishing just 25th in 2006 and 12th in 2010. Though he feared he was starting to lose his speed, the American record-holder clocked his best time in almost four years in November and won a World Cup race for the first time in two. His best time of the season ranks eighth in the world, but just 0.06 seconds away from the leader.
Twitter: @TuckerFredricks
Jonathan Garcia
You might remember Garcia as the skater who lost a spot on the Olympic team in the 500 meters because he forgot to wear the required timing devices during the trials. But the former inline skater from Texas put the mistake behind him and qualified for his first Olympics in the 1,000. Medaling is unlikely, though; he’s the fourth-ranked American, and his best time ranks 13th in the world. Website
Twitter: @JAGarcia23
Shani Davis
The two-time Olympic champion and world-record holder is a top bet to medal in both of his specialty races, the 1,000 and 1,500 meters. Davis has shifted his training this season to focus more on peaking for the Olympics, and his World Cup results look uncharacteristically mixed as a result. Though the Chicago native has trained outside the national program for years, he owns a home in Salt Lake City and trains some at the Utah Olympic Oval. Website
Twitter: @ShaniDavis
Lauren Cholewinski
Cholewinski gets another shot at the 500 meters, after finishing 30th in that event at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. This time, she stands a better chance - though she’s not a serious medal contender; her best time ranks 15th in the world this season. The former inline skater from South Carolina whose mother used to drop her with friends at a roller rink instead of a day care also does some modeling.
Twitter: @LMCholewinski
Sugar Todd
A first-time Olympian, Todd will compete in both the 500 and 1,000 meters, and will have her parents there to watch after crowdsourcing a fund-raising campaign for them. The Wisconsin native will not be a medal contender - neither of her best times rank among the top 20 in the world - but that could change once the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics roll around, since she’s among the youngest on the team.
Twitter: @SugarMotion
Patrick Meek
The University of Utah graduate is as much a philanthropist as an athlete, having worked with Right to Play and Charity:Water as he pursued his Olympic dream. The first-time Olympian from Chicago will compete in the 5,000 meters, where it figures to be almost impossible for anybody to break the Dutch stranglehold. Four of the top six times in the world are held by Dutchmen, and Meek’s best is not among the top 20 in the world. Website
Twitter: @PatJMeek
Joey Mantia
The former inline skater switched to the ice barely three years ago, and already is making his first Olympic appearance - just like fellow Florida native Brittany Bowe. He will race the 1,000 and 1,500 meters, both of which are stacked with more experienced competitors. Still, he might have an outside shot at a medal in the 1,000 if has his best day and everything breaks just right. Website
Twitter: @JRMantia
Kelly Gunther
Few people have had as agonizing a road to the Olympics as Gunther. She missed qualifying for the 2010 Olympics after believing she’d made it - another skater bumped her after being granted a re-skate - then nearly severed her foot when she fell during a race and suffered a double-compound fracture of her leg. But the Ohio native and Salt Lake Community College student finally made it, and will race the 1,000 meters in Sochi.
Twitter: @KellyAGunther
Mitch Whitmore
The top-ranked American sprinter on the team, Whitmore has come a long way from his 37th place finish at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Now, the Illinois native owns the seventh-fastest 500-meter time in the world this season - and by just 0.05 seconds. In fact, with just 0.06 seconds separating the eight fastest skaters in the world this year, his race could be the most competitive on the schedule.
Twitter: @WhitmoreUSA
Photos: The Salt Lake Tribune, USSA, Associated Press