Gold and glory at the Games
The PyeongChang Winter Olympics will open amid international tensions. Here are three things to look out for after the opening ceremony Feb. 9.
An unusual men’s hockey team
With National Hockey League barring its players from Olympic participation for the first time since 1994, the 2018 U.S. men’s hockey team won’t feature big names like Patrick Kane, Ryan Suter or Jonathan Quick. Instead, USA Hockey has selected players from a wider range of experiences -— everyone from NCAA upstarts to NHL retirees, and American players in European leagues. However, experts agree that a gold medal is unlikely.
Korean diplomatic implications
With this year’s games taking place only 50 miles from the border between North and South Korea, athletes and spectators willgather in the shadow of an uneasy, nuclear truce. While both governments have agreed to march their athletes under a united flag, a still-precarious political situation is bound to offer hiccups, of different magnitudes, to the North-South relationship over the course of the games.
U.S. Figure Skating’s best hope
At only 18 years old, two-time national champion Nathan Chen gives Team USA its best chance at a skating gold medal in PyeongChang. Equipped with the unique ability to complete an impressive number of quadruple jumps and emboldened by an undefeated season, Chen easily earned a spot on the U.S. roster in January. However, in order to win Olympic gold, Chen must face off against Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu, the reigning Olympic champion.
