| It's less than a year till the 2010 Olympics arrive in B.C. | | | | The rodeo-enthusiast from Alberta has 13 years of |
| and excitement is mounting higher as the event draws | | | | experience to take her to the 2010 Games and has |
| near. Although the celebrations and ceremonies play | | | | won major international skeleton events from all over |
| an integral role in the games, the most important part | | | | the world - including a bronze at the 2006 Olympics in |
| of course are the Olympic athletes. These young men | | | | Turin. Mellisa is the first Canadian woman in history to |
| and women have been training their entire lives to | | | | win a medal for the sport of skeleton, she also won |
| compete at an elite level and become among the best | | | | the overall World Cup title in 2005-06 season and |
| in their sport. Find out here about some of the top | | | | completed third in 2008. In 2009, she proves that she is |
| athletes you should look out for in the upcoming 2010 | | | | still strong with two succeeding medals at the World |
| Olympic Games and why they are considered the | | | | Cup. |
| favourites in their event. | | | | Lindsey Vonn - USA - Alpine Skiing |
| Andre Lange - Germany - Bobsleigh | | | | Lindsey Vonn has become the spotlight of the alpine |
| After obtaining the World Cup overall titles in both | | | | ski world. After claiming the overall title last season, |
| men's two-man and four man events in 2008 and | | | | Vonn began the 2008-2009 season as a favourite, |
| top-three honours in the same events again in 2009, it | | | | and she hasn't let anyone down. She shattered |
| will be Andre Lange who will be attracting attention in | | | | records to become the most triumphant women's |
| Whistler. Olympic anxiety is no concern for Lange, as | | | | skier in U.S. history. Vonn obtained 16 podium finishes |
| veteran among the Olympic athletes and an | | | | during World Cup events, including nine victories. She |
| experienced athlete at 35 years of age, he already | | | | also gained two gold medals at the 2009 World Alpine |
| lays claim to three Olympic gold medals from the 2006 | | | | Ski Championships in Val D'Isere, France, ending the |
| Games in Turin. | | | | season with the more prize money than any other |
| Sandra Kiriasis - Germany - Bobsleigh | | | | alpine skier. |
| Sandra Kiriasis is another Olympic veteran returning to | | | | Kati Wilhelm - Germany - Biathlon |
| snag another spot on the podium. After winning a gold | | | | As a sergeant in the German Armed Forces as well |
| medal in women's bobsleigh at the 2007 Turin Games, | | | | as a former Olympic cross country skier, it is no |
| Sandra is determined to make her mark in 2010. She | | | | surprise that Kati Wilhelm has the drive and stamina of |
| has been paramount in women's bobsleigh, pushing to | | | | a world class biathlete. At the 2002 Salt Lake City |
| the overall World Cup title every year since 2004. In | | | | Games, she grabbed a two gold medals and one silver |
| the 2007-2008 World Cup segment, Kiriasis ended up | | | | medal. In Turin, she earned one gold and two silver |
| on the podium with every competition she participated | | | | medals. Her standing among the top three athletes in |
| in, gaining seven of a potential 10 gold medals on the | | | | the IBU World Cup much of this season is another |
| World Cup course. | | | | reason why she a favourite for the upcoming 2010 |
| Mellisa Hollingsworth - Canada - Skeleton | | | | Olympics. |
