Cutest Winter Olympic athletes play in Sochi (24 photos)

Prior to the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, a few days left. For the right to take part in the Olympics fought the best of the best. We want to introduce you to the 24 most promising and attractive (according to the online edition businessinsider) athletes from different sports - from biathlon to hockey, which are ready to compete for medals in Sochi.

Alyson Dudek, USA


Age: 23
Sport: Short Track
A native of Wisconsin won the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Vancouver than secured a ticket to the Olympics, joining the women's team in short track.

Aksel Lund Svindal, Norway


Age: 30
Sports: Skiing
This Norwegian champion who won one medal of each denomination in the Olympic Games in Vancouver, plans to repeat its success in all disciplines in Sochi. Svindal finished in the top five in the last six races of the World Cup. He triumphed 22 times at the World Cup, which had not previously sought no Norwegian.

Ashley Wagner, US


Age: 22
Sport: Figure Skating
Two-time champion of the US Figure Skating yet received one of three tickets for the Sochi Games in women's figure skating, despite the fact that only took fourth place in the championship of the United States.

Bode Miller, United States


Age: 36
Sports: Skiing
Won five Olympic medals, who won 33 victories at the World Cup and became a two-time World Cup winner, "veteran" Miller is the most decorated American skier of all time. After recovering from a knee injury, Miller plans to compete for a medal at the Olympics.

Henrik Lundqvist, Sweden


Age: 31
Sport: Ice Hockey
The pearl of the Games in Sochi will undoubtedly male hockey tournament. Goalkeeper "Rangers" after the worst season of his nine-year NHL career hopes to bring to his native Sweden the gold medal. Lundqvist is also making strides as an actor for incredible sexual infomercial shampoo Head & Shoulders.

John Robert Celski, USA


Age: 23
Sports: short track
Countryside world's first managed to run a distance of 500 meters in 40 seconds. Vancouver athlete brought two bronze medals.

Jeff Carter, Canada


Age: 29
Sport: Ice Hockey
Forward "Los Angeles Kings" will go to Sochi for Team Canada hockey and try to prove that he can defend the honor of their country against the best teams in the world. Carter scored 13 goals in 33 games this season.

Julia Mancuso, US


Age: 29
Sports: Skiing
"Super Jules" as it was called fans, try to win a medal on his third Olympic Games already. Mancuso made a splash at the Games in Vancouver, becoming a two-time silver medalist in the super combined and downhill, as well as releasing a batch of 500 strings and 500 shorts boxers. To create his own line of underwear Kiss My Tiara athlete inspired tiara she wore during the competition.

Julie Chu, US


Age: 31
Sport: Ice Hockey
A graduate of Harvard and a model for the magazine ESPN The Magazine Julie Chu is the oldest player to represent the female hockey team at the Olympics. This will be her fourth Games, and she hopes that soon in her collection of silver and bronze medals will go more and gold.

Lolo Jones, USA


Age: 31
Sport: Bobsleigh
Once in London athlete finished only fourth in the hurdles, she decided to try his hand at bobsled. Now, to achieve this American on the track is truly impressive - this season she performed at four World Cups and won 2 silver medals.

Patrick Chan, Canada


Age: 22
Sport: Figure Skating
This triple world champion has every chance to bring to Canada's first gold medal in the men's figure skating. Patrick Chan won the Grand Prix, setting a world record in the short program, beating his nearest rival by almost 7 points.

Sarah Hendrickson, USA


Age: 19
Sports: Ski Jumping
For the first time in Olympic history was in Sochi on the trampoline will be admitted women. This champion of the world in 2013 is the youngest athlete in his team. A serious knee injury, which she received in the summer, brought it down, and most of the season, she was treated. However, before the participants have been announced, which will be included in the US team ski jumping, she was back in the ranks.

Shani Davis, USA


Age: 31
Sport: Speed ​​Skating
Apart from the fact that Davis in the arsenal are 6 Olympic medals, the athlete hopes this time to receive your reward. Two-time champion at the distance of 1000 meters and is the first African American to win the "gold" at the Winter Olympics.

Shaun White, the US


Age: 27
Sport: Snowboard
Nicknamed "The Flying Tomato" for red hair color White won gold at the Olympics in Turin. In addition, he set a record for the most gold medals at the Winter X-Games and was on top of the podium at the Winter Olympics. Two-time Olympic champion in halfpipe can not find an equal in the upcoming Olympics.

Cindy Crosby, Canada


Age: 26
Sport: Ice Hockey
Sidney Crosby has received in 15 years the nickname «The Next One», scored the winning goal in overtime final match USA-Canada at the Vancouver Olympics. Hockey player and captain of the team, "Pittsburgh Penguins", will also be the captain of Team Canada and go to defend his title in Sochi.

Silja Norendal, Norway


Age: 20
Sport: Snowboard Slopestyle
The Norwegian athlete and just a beauty represents a new generation of Norwegian snowboarders different cool style and confident approach. Despite the fact that Norendal says he does not like rails, it is superbly acted on them in Tignes, France and earned his country the gold medal.

Ted Ligety, USA


Age: 29
Sports: Skiing
Three years in a row Ligeti won a victory at the World Cup. Olympic champion in 2006 expects to win in the giant slalom and combined.

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Canada


Age: 24 and 26
Sports: Dancing on Ice
Five times in a row to win the tournament «Skate Canada», Tessa and Scott said that, most likely, this season will be for them final. Couple riding together for 16 years and hopes to finish his career, winning the gold medal in Sochi.

Teresa Yohaug, Norway


Age: 25
Sports: Cross-country skiing
Yohaug became the first athlete from Norway, won the "Tour de Ski" and is now the leader in the overall World Cup on the number of points, which earned her this victory. Because of its energy and high speed on the highway, it was nicknamed "Rabbit Duracell».

Tim Burke, USA


Age: 31
Sports: Biathlon
Biathlon combines ski race with shooting a rifle. Athletes from the United States has never conquered medals in this sport at the Olympics, so the native of Lake Placid to make big bets. In 2013, Burke won the silver medal at the World Championships in the individual race at 20 kilometers.

Tina Maze, Slovenia


Age: 30
Sports: Skiing
Slovenian singing sensation has not yet won any competitions this season, however, Slovenia is counting on its medal of Sochi. Last season, she secured a first career victory in the overall World Cup and set a record for the number of points.

Torah Bright, Australia


Age: 26
Sport: Snowboard
Olympic champion in 2010, serving in the halfpipe, will defend his title at the Olympic Games in Sochi in slopestyle. Last month snowboarder confusion as the Australian Olympic Committee, saying that does not agree with the ban on the use of mobile devices for shooting sportsmen and placing materials in the media and social networks.

Vanessa Mae, Thailand


Age: 35
Sports: Ski Slalom
British violinist wonderful time left on his musical career to re-wear ski boots and try your hand at Slalom. It is one of three athletes who will represent Thailand at the Games in Sochi.

Kim Yuna, South Korea


Age: 23
Sport: Figure Skating
The current Olympic champion and two-time world champion will travel to Sochi to defend his title. However, this will be her last Games. Income "Princess Yuna" in the last 12 months is estimated at $ 14 million (the prize and the proceeds from advertising and sponsors). And in 2010, the figure skater was among the ten highest paid athletes world rated magazine Forbes.