Beijing 2022: A guide to the top athletes and teams to watch at the Olympic Winter Games (part I)
In part I of our two-part guide, we take a look at some of the medal favourites in the Alpine skiing, figure skating, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, luge, short track and speed skating competitions at Beijing 2022.
On February 4 2022, the best winter athletes in the world will gather in Beijing for the Olympic Winter Games. With close to 3,000 athletes competing in 109 events, there will be plenty of skiers, skaters and sliders to keep an eye on. To help familiarise yourself with the competitors who will likely challenge for gold medals at the Games, check out our two-part guide on the top prospective athletes and teams for all 15 sports at Beijing 2022 here!
Stay tuned for Part II of our guide, which will be published on Olympics.com on May 17.
Hanyū Yuzuru is the reigning Olympic champion in the men's singles competition, and will surely be the man to beat in Beijing as he looks for a third consecutive title in the discipline - a feat not achieved since 1928. The Japanese phenom is no stranger to making history, however. He is the first Asian men's singles skater to win Olympic gold, the youngest male skater to win gold since 1948, and is the first and only male singles skater to achieve a Super Slam - winning all major competitions in his senior and junior career.
Hanyū has broken world records a remarkable 19 times, and is widely regarded as one of, if not thegreatest male figure skater in history. Simply put, he is can't-miss television.
“I managed to win twice, but the Olympics are something special. The Olympic Games are what every athlete and figure skater wants to win. Winning them makes you a true champion. I am going to look forward to thinking about who will win at the Beijing Games."