What do a Mexican prince, a Jamaican bobsledding team and a flying tomato all have in common? They’re Olympic athletes, ready to converge on the tracks and arenas of Sochi. Read on to learn more about some of the most interesting athletes in the games, including their chances for medal glory and their personal quirks.
Shaun White
The eccentric redhead known as The Flying Tomato is back and ready to soar, despite a recent crash. He’ll step up to the snowboard in an attempt to become the third-time Olympic Champion in half-pipe, after also aiming for victory in slopestyle, an event making its Olympic debut in Sochi. But White, the namesake of a PlayStation game called “Shaun White Snowboarding”, will look a bit different from his times in Turin and Vancouver. His signature locks are now dramatically shorter, thanks to making a hairy gift to Locks of Love in December 2012, and he has a black eye, courtesy of a Jan. 25 tumble during practice.
Mikaela Shiffrin
She may have just earned her right to vote, but this 18-year-old alpine skier already has a strong shot at scoring gold. Hailing from the classic ski town of Vail, Colo., Shiffrin is the reigning world champion and three-time World Cup title-holder in slalom. Now that Lindsey Vohn, a 2010 Olympic Champion, is out due to a knee injury, Shiffrin is widely considered the strongest medal contender of the nine women on Team USA for skiing. In fact, she’s been dubbed “The Next Lindsey Vonn.” Simply Googling those words will bringing up thousands of pages details Shiffrin’s accomplishments. Yet, Shiffrin steers clear of that phrasing herself, as she told TODAY.com, “When they say I’m the next Lindsey Vonn, they are shooing her out the door, and I don’t think that’s fair.”
Prince Humbertus von Hohenlohe
The sixth time Olympian isn’t expected to medal, but that doesn’t stop him from being one of the year’s most notable athletes. At age 55, this alpine skier will be the oldest competitor of 2014 and the second oldest in all of Winter Olympic history. He’ll also be the sole representative of Mexico, though he doesn’t even live there. He calls Austria home. He was simply born in Mexico, because Hohenlohe’s family, as he told Time.com, “always wanted to have one member of the family [who was] Mexican.” And the prince part of his name? That’s all thanks to being a royal descendant from a German principality that hasn’t existed for over 200 years.
When he’s not busy skiing or prince-ing, Hoenlohe takes photos and sings. In 2005, he displayed an art show entitled “It’s Me!,” featuring photos of the oh-so-humble athlete. He also aspires to be a pop singer, performing under the names Andy Himalaya and Royal Disaster. To catch a glimpse of Hohenloe in action at the Olympics, simply look for the quirkiest outfit. Hohenlohe plans to wear a mariachi-themed ski suit.
Gracie Gold
With her graceful moves and potential for gold, this figure skater’s name may sound fictitious, like a whimsical blonde Disney creation. Well, it’s her real name, though her journey to Sochi sounds like a fairytale. Gold is indeed a golden athlete, having won the US Championship in January with nearly flawless short and free skate programs, both of which earned record scores under the new judging system. Although her free skate program is set to the ballet music of “Sleeping Beauty”, this stunning skater isn’t expected to snooze through the games; she’s actually widely considered Team US’s best medal contender for her sport. And watching from the sidelines will be Carly Gold, another competitive skater who happens to be Gracie’s fraternal twin sister.
Jamaican Bobsled Team
If the above three words immediately made you think of the film “Cool Runnings,” you’re in for a treat. The 1993 comedy flick was inspired by the first Olympic bobsled team from Jamaica, who competed in 1988, and for the first time since 2002, Jamaican’s set to appear on the ice tracks again, now as a two-man team. But the journey wasn’t without its challenges. In order to afford the pricey trip from their home tropical island to frigid Sochi, driver Winston Watts and brakeman Marvin Dixon had to raise $80,000 in just a few days. Thanks to enthusiastic donors from online campaigns, they raced far past that finish line in perfect time; as of a Jan. 22 NPR article, they have over 184 grand. The fact that Watt and Dixon aren’t expected to medal in Russia hardly seems to matter; they’re already victorious, winning over supportive fans worldwide.
