Sochi 2014: America's 20 Best Shots for Gold in the Winter Olympics

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Lindsay Gibbs, Featured Columnist 

Feb 5, 2014

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Nothing brings out patriotism like the Olympics.

Team USA's Sochi contingent is the largest group of Americans to ever compete in the Winter Olympics, as there are 230 athletes on the team (105 women and 125 men). It's a talented bunch, too—the United States is predicted to lead the medal count at the end of the two weeks in Sochi.

Using the Infostrada Sports Virtual Medal Table, the Associated Presspredictions and independent research, we take a look at the Americans who have the best shot at bringing gold back to the United States.

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Lolo Jones: Olympic Profile of US Bobsled Hopeful for Sochi 2014

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Steve Silverman, Featured Columnist 

Jan. 14, 2014

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Most people know Lolo Jones as the Olympic hurdler who tripped in Beijing and failed to medal in London. With Rio years away, she is using the interim to train as one of six pushers vying for three spots on the U.S. Women's Bobsled team.

Jones started bobsledding as a form of cross-training for hurdling, and she became proficient enough to have a legitimate chance to win a spot on the team. Jones has been scrutinized ever since a 2012 New York Times article claimed that she primarily uses the Olympic platform as a tool for marketing.

Athletic Profile

Jones, 31, showed her pushing skills when she won a silver medal with teammate Jazmine Fenlator in her first World Cup event in Nov. 2012. She also took home a gold medal in the FIBT World Championships in St. Moritz last January.

Yet heartbreak has been her calling card on the track. She was leading the 2008 100-meter hurdles in Beijing until she tripped over thepenultimate hurdle and finished fourth in the same race in London, one-tenth of a second behind the bronze finisher.

 

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The Revelation

Jones made headlines when she went on HBO's Real Sports and discussed her virginity. She said that her decision was religious and that staying celibate was tougher than "training for the Olympics." 

 

Social Profile

Jones has said that she likes to use her Twitter account@lolojones to meet men she can date. With over 370,000 followers, she has a good shot. She also has a Facebook fan page with more than 251,000 likes and is sponsored by Asics.

 

Bacon Cheeseburger, Please

When Jones is running track, her ideal weight is 133 pounds. But bobsled requires much higher body mass. In September, she said she reached 157 pounds by eating 9,000 calories per day. 

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  Best USA Chances for Repeat Gold
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