By Avalon Kelly
Set to take place in Beijing throughout February, the 2022 Winter Olympic Games will not be an event to miss. News of the diplomatic boycott began circling early December after the US announced they would not send any government officials to represent their country. Despite the political turmoil surrounding this event, the top winter athletes from around the world will join to compete and perform.
Norway, Germany, and Russia have long crushed the competition in the Olympic biathlon. This year, Norway has two athletes expected to be competing for gold: 28 year old Johannes Thingnes Bo, and 24 year old Sturla Holm Lagreid. Experts predict that one of these two Scandinavian athletes will break the all-time record of 30:16.9.
Statisticians predict that Germany will dominate the bobsleigh competition this year. After their outstanding performance at the skeleton/bobsleigh test event in October 2021, teams worldwide have looked to Germany as the top competition to beat.
Great Britain could possibly win the gold in curling at this Winter Olympics; this victory would represent their first gold in a national competition since 2002.
Hockey fans worldwide stand in agreement with the statement that Canada has the best chance of earning the gold at this year’s Olympic ice hockey competition. With arguably unparalleled forwards, the team looks to sweep all other competitors.
Unsurprisingly, experts anticipate that Germany will receive the gold in the luge. Athlete Natalie Geisenberger, who is the most decorated female luger in Olympic history with four golds and one bronze, looks to once again prove her dominance in her sport.
The Russian Olympic Committee will bring the top three women from the 2021 skating world championships: Anna Shcherbakova, Alexandra Trusova, and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva. With their powerful lineup, who could argue against their projected success this February?
American Mikaela Shiffrin, two-time Olympic gold medalist in Alpine skiing, looks to continue her winning streak this year. Also competing in the slalom, Shiffrin hopes to carry America to victory in skiing.
With the global competition at an unprecedented level, this upcoming winter Olympic season will surely be one to remember.