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2018 Winter Olympics: Top Athletes, Event Schedule and Medal History
February 6, 2018
The 2018 Winter Olympics are fast approaching, as Friday marks the opening ceremony of the Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Although the competition officially begins on Friday, curling will kick off its round-robin stage on Thursday, while ski jumping will also commence qualification rounds on the same day.
Great Britain's Elise Christie is expected to dominate in the short-track speedskating, which starts on Saturday, and the world champion will have her eye on Olympic glory.
Norway and Germany will once again field impressive squads, with the United States and Canada also dreaming of medals.
Russia will be absent from the Games after their recent doping punishment delivered by the International Olympic Committee. However, a selection of athletes from the country will be present after receiving individual clearance to compete.
Here is a full event schedule, including the start dates of each discipline and a look at top athletes to watch:
Thursday, Feb. 8
Curling, ski jumping
Friday, Feb. 9
Opening ceremony, figure skating, freestyle skiing
Saturday, Feb. 10
Biathlon, cross-country skiing, short-track speedskating, speedskating, ski jumping
Sunday, Feb. 11
Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, luge, snowboard, speedskating
Monday, Feb. 12
Alpine skiing, biathlon, figure skating, ski jumping, snowboard, speedskating
Tuesday, Feb. 13
Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, curling, short-track speedskating, snowboard, speedskating
Wednesday, Feb. 14
Alpine skiing, biathlon, Nordic combined, snowboard, speedskating
Thursday, Feb. 15
Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, figure skating, luge, skeleton, speedskating
Friday, Feb. 16
Cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboard, speed skating, skeleton
Saturday, Feb. 17
Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, figure skating, freestyle skiing, short-track speedskating, ski jumping, skeleton
Sunday, Feb. 18
Alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, speedskating
Monday, Feb. 19
Bobsleigh, ski jumping, speedskating
Tuesday, Feb. 20
Biathlon, figure skating, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, short-track speedskating
Wednesday, Feb. 21
Alpine skiing, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, speedskating
Thursday, Feb. 22
Alpine skiing, biathlon, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, Nordic combined, short-track speedskating
Friday, Feb. 23
Alpine skiing, biathlon, figure skating, freestyle skiing, snowboard, speedskating
Saturday, Feb. 24
Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, curling, snowboard, speedskating
Sunday, Feb. 25
Bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, curling, ice hockey, closing ceremony
Schedule courtesy of the Telegraph.
Per OlympStats, here's a look at the medal table from four years ago before Russia were stripped of 13 medals and then had seven returned:
Medal Table at Sochi
Russia (33): 13 gold, 11 silver, 9 bronze
United States (28): 9 gold, 7 silver, 12 bronze
Norway (26): 11 gold, 5 silver, 10 bronze
Canada (25): 10 gold, 10 silver, 5 bronze
Netherlands (24): 8 gold, 7 silver, 9 bronze
Germany (19): 8 gold, 6 silver, 5 bronze
Top Athletes
Elise Christie, Speedskating
Christie rose to prominence in the last Games but became famous for all the wrong reasons.
The Scot was tipped for gold ahead of the competition. However, disaster struck as she suffered disqualification in each of her three events.
The 27-year-old was disqualified after a collision in the 500 metres, and she suffered further agony in the 1,000 and 1,500 due to a technical infringement and a second collision, respectively.
Christie was heartbroken by her performance but has risen to become the most recognisable figure in her sport.
The athlete is now world champion in the 1,000 and 1,500, and she grabbed a bronze in the 3,000 at the World Championships.
She also set a world record in the 500 at Salt Lake City in a World Cup event, underlining her potential for a huge haul in Pyeongchang.
Shaun White, Snowboard
The United States will be hoping snowboard icon Shaun White can once again take home gold as the double Olympic champion attempts to reclaim his throne.
White has been one of the greatest competitors in winter sports history, claiming a record 13 gold medals at the Winter X Games.
The snowboarder was jubilant when he earned a spot through U.S. qualifying:
The 31-year-old came fourth at Sochi 2014 but will have the chance to improve on that when he takes to the snow this year.
White recorded a perfect halfpipe score to win the U.S. Grand Prix in Snowmass, Colorado, and he will believe he has every chance of gold in Pyeongchang.
The Californian will be one of the most instantly recognisable faces at the competition, and his quality remains undeniable.