4:32 p.m. EST February 4, 2014 The official opening of the Winter Olympics will be Feb. 7. As part of our Dell 10 to Watch series, USA TODAY Sports will profile 10 prominent American athletes you need to watch compete for gold during the events in Sochi.
Some of the names, like Lolo Jones, Patrick Kane and Shaun White, will be familiar to you. Others, like Steve Holcomb and Kikkan Randall, are stars of the sports that have a lower profile.
Check back every day before the Opening Ceremonies as we complete our list.
Shaun White, men's snowboard
Success at the Olympics has made White a pop-culture icon. Even though he's shed his "Flying Tomato" nickname and cut his trademark hair, White remains one of the best in his sport while also also rubbing at events with Condoleezza Rice, Gen. Colin Powell and Goldie Hawn.
Steve Holcomb, men's bobsled
The United States hadn't won a gold medal in the four-man bobsled in 62 years before Holcomb won in Vancouver four years ago. He's back this time with higher expectations - winning gold in both the two- and four-man events at the same Olympics. It's only been done five times.
Νoelle Pikus-Pace, women's skeleton
A rarity among Olympians, Pikus-Pace is juggling her quest for gold while being a mother of two young children. But one of the world's top contenders in skeleton manages just fine by bring her son and daughter along and using them as motivation.
Patrick Kane, men's hockey
Kane already has reached the pinnacle of the NHL with two Stanley Cup wins and a playoff MVP trophy as member of the Chicago Blackhawks. However, he heads to Sochi in hopes of an elusive gold medal after the U.S. took silver in an overtime loss to Canada in 2010.
Lolo Jones, women's bobsled
Jones will make history as one of 10 athletes to compete in both the Winter and Summer Games. After two near misses in hurdles on the track, she changed sports and qualified for the U.S. bobsled team this winter as a brakeman in hopes of winning her first Olympic medal.
Kikkan Randall, women's cross country skiing
Entering her fourth Olympics, Randall is seeking to make history as the first woman from the United State to win a medal in her sport. The Alaska native has a great chance. She heads to Sochi as the defending World Cup sprint champion and is a world champion in the team sprint with Jessie Diggins.
Kelly Clark, women's snowboard
Clark won gold 12 years ago in Salt Lake City. Now at the age of 30, she has the distinction of being a pioneer and one of the top competitors in her sport at the same time. Hard work has kept in at the top of her game in a field where some athletes are half her age.
