(ATR) Team USA will bring a record 230 athletes to the 2014 Sochi Olympics with competitors in all 15 disciplines across seven sports, including up to 94 of the 98 medal events.
The athlete delegation of 125 men and 105 women is the largest from any nation in the history of the Winter Games. The team features 106 returning Olympians, 49 medalists, and 13 Olympic champions.
The official announcement of the team came amid ongoing security concerns in Sochi.
David Backes, a candidate for captain of the U.S. men’s ice hockey team, said from what he’s seen of the design of the Olympic Village and surrounding areas, "They’re trying to make it as safe as possible and as fan friendly as possible so that we can have another amazing time that’s centered around Games that are sport at its truest form."
He added that he expects the athletes and their guests "can be safe, with all the resources, the time and people, man hours being put in by the Russian government, (and) a little bit of assistance maybe from outside sources."
However, the St. Louis Blues captain who won a silver medal in 2010 said there was a comfort level in Vancouver, which is an NHL city.
"We could send our families or our guests to a certain restaurant that we’d been to before and say, ‘Hey, that’s a good spot, we’ll meet you there or we’ll see you afterwards,’" he said. "Obviously, Sochi, Russia, isn’t a place that we travel [to] regularly.A lot of the guys who are going haven’t been to Russia before. It’s a different culture, a different way of life, an unfamiliar setting, all those things are going to be on your mind."
Patrick Sandusky, spokesman for the U.S. Olympic Committee, emphasized that the organization has not told athletes to refrain from wearing their Team USA gear outside the Olympic Village or venues. However, he said the U.S. State Department had advised that wearing conspicuous USA clothing could impact personal safety and was something athletes "should consider."
Alan Ashley, chef de mission for Team USA, added that "the major conversation with our team has been how to go to Sochi and do a great job."
"What I’m hearing is the athletes are really just focused on going there to compete and to perform well and to represent their country. I think there’s a lot of good momentum around that.
In the absence of injured alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, most of the attention on the women’s side has shifted to 18-year-old Mikaela Shiffrin. She is favored to win the gold medal in slalom and could also reach the podium in giant slalom.
"Of course, it’s a really big bummer that Lindsey is not going to be there to lead the way," Shiffrin said. "She’s been the head for so long leading the charge. We’re all going to miss her really a lot.
"I’m excited to take on my events in Sochi. I’m not feeling pressure in a negative way. It’s fuel for the fire. I’m going to shoot for the gold and ski my heart out and I think I’m lucky to be in this position at all."
Shiffrin said she visited the Caucasus Mountains last year in February, about the same time as the alpine skiers will compete this year.
"It was somewhat springlike conditions," she said. "They had to throw some salt into the snow to harden it up."
Shiffrin said race organizers might have to do the same to keep conditions fair for the entire field.
"It was one of the best training camps I’ve ever had," she said. "It was perfect conditions and I think it’s going to be great."
Team processing begins Jan. 29 in Munich, which is convenient for many athletes in winter sports who already use the German city as a hub when they are competing or training.
The 2010 Vancouver team was composed of 212 athletes. Team USA won 37 medals in Vancouver, more than any other country, but had only nine gold medals to trail Canada and Germany.
Team USA starts out with three Golds: figure skater Gracie Gold and snowboarding siblings Arielle and Taylor Gold.
The team will have representation from 38 states, with 20 athletes from California, 19 from Colorado and Minnesota, and 18 from New York.
The oldest athlete is Ann Shishelm, 46, in women’s curling. The youngest is Maggie Voisin, 15, in freestyle skiing.
Written by Nick Devlin
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