SOME OLYMPIANS TO WATCH THIS SEASON – PYEONGCHANG 2018
By Alexandra Evans
EVE MUIRHEAD, 27, curling
Born into a multi-generation family of professional curlers, Muirhead, made headlines when she won the bronze medal in 2014 in Sochi, representing Great Britain and becoming the youngest curling skip to do so. Most recently, representing her native Scotland, she beat out Sweden 6-3 in November 2017, earning her eighth European medal.
This season, Muirhead’s two brothers, 22 year-old Tom and 28 year-old Glen, will take the floor with her in PyeongChang, representing silver medalist Kyle Smith’s British men’s rink.
KJETIL JANSRUD, 32, alpine skiing
An avid skier since age seven, Jansrud, a Norway native, made his first World Cup appearance in 2003 when he was just 17. Most recently, in 2016-17, he earned three super-G titles in France (Val d’Isère) and Italy (Val Gardena and Bormio). He also earned the super-G silver, a runner-up to Eric Guay (who represented Canada) in Switzerland (St. Moritz).
Jansrud is not only expected to maintain his super-G status this year, but also to boost it, as PyeongChang is known as a prominent ground for Norwegian skiers.
SVEN KRAMER, 31, speed skating
Also known as “The Flying Dutchman,” Kramer, a native of Heerenveen, Friesland, Netherlands who won his first medal just a few months shy of his 20th birthday, holds 22 medals (19 of which are gold) in the International Skating Union’s World Singles Distances Speed Skating and 11 (nine golds) in the World Allround Speed Skating Championships.
Kramer is three gold medals away from becoming the greatest speed skater in the history of the Olympics, a feat he may accomplish this year in PyeongChang.
