By Zach Waltz
Sports Assignment Editor
With the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics kicking off today, Americans will cheer on representatives of our country for the next 18 days.
The United States will once again be in the hunt to win the medal count, with our rival across the pond, Great Britain, also looking to be competitive in multiple events this year.
Norway is projected to win the most gold medals. The United States is predicted to finish second in gold medals, with Germany predicted to come in third.
The biggest story coming out of Sochi, however, is the largest number of terrorism threats to an Olympic Games in history.
As the games begin, athletes, coaches and spectators alike will have the ever-present thought of an attack looming over them.
However, the fear of an attack will likely fade as competitions begin and athletes focus on putting years of training into action.
The U.S. team is headlined by big names like snowboarders Shaun White and Danny Davis, skier Bode Miller and hockey players Patrick Kane and Zach Parise.
White, Davis and Gregory Bretz are expected to dominate men’s halfpipe. Russian Yuri Podladchikov is the biggest obstacle in the way of the Americans, as he is also expected to make a push for the podium.
Miller will look to uphold his standard of excellence in alpine skiing.
The men’s hockey team may be the favorite this year after a huge disappointment stemming from the last olympics.
Sabres’ goalie Ryan Miller is most likely to start between the pipes for the U.S. Kane and Parise are staples in an offensive attack that is rivaled only by Canada and Russia.
Skier Lindsey Vonn announced via Facebook in January that she would not be participating in the games this year as a result of an ACL injury. While Vonn’s presence will be missed, she said it would allow her teammates to step and perform well. She is the defending gold medalist in the women’s downhill event.
Nordic skier Todd Lodwick will carry the flag for the United States in today’s opening ceremonies. Lodwick has made six Olympic Games, beginning in 1994, which is an American record.
The U.S. is favored for gold in ice dancing, men’s snowboarding and men’s speed skating, along with other events.
The Jamaican bobsled team will be making their return to the Olympics. However, they haven’t been able to practice because their luggage went missing along with team members Winston Watts and Marvin Dixon because they missed their connecting flight.
Women will be participating for medals in ski jump this year for the first time. The United States team will consist of Jessica Jerome, Lindsey Van and 2013 world champion Sarah Hendrickson. They look to be the first women to ever take home a gold medal in ski jump this year.
This year’s games are set for some big moments, as always. Nonetheless, United States citizens will unite to support our fellow Americans.
No matter what the results, the Olympic Games remind us all that we are one country, and it’s nice to see the country come together for a single cause.
Zach Waltz is the sports assignment editor of The Bona Venture. His email is waltzzd12@bonaventure.edu.
