Photo by: John Cheney

Many Americans, are of the mind that we will dominate in the upcoming Winter Olympics.

Let’s face it, America spends more money on entertainment or sports than most other countries spend on their military.

So why shouldn’t we win? We’re on our home turf. We have an improved sense of patriotism and the world now knows not to make us angry.

Of course there are some people that have the power to dash our hopes at the Olympics: the other hundreds of world athletes.

For example, Stephan Eberharter from Austria is in the race for the gold medal in alpine skiing. This man has the skill and the heart of an Olympic gold medalist.

Two-time World Championship gold medalist Pavel Rostovtsev from Russia will be contending for a top spot in the biathlon. Joining him will be Swede Per Elofsson. Other world-class athletes will be German’s Andrea Henkel, six-time Olympic medalist Uschi Disl and Norwegian Halvard Hanevold.

Cross country hopefuls Johann Muehlegg from Spain and Erling Jevne from Norway are prominent contenders in the race for the gold medal, but will they be able to stand up to the United States?

Bobsledding his way to past victories is three-time Olympic medalist Christoph Langen, another one of Germany’s finest athletes. Participating in both the four and two man events, he will be hard to defeat.

The luge has always been an exciting event, because it’s practictaly insane. This year Italy has sent Armin Zoeggeler to compete. In the past he has taken both the silver and bronze medals.

Sweden’s Peter Narup, Canada’s Georgina Wheatcroft and Finland’s Markku Uusipaavalniemi will be trying to push their teams into the curling finals, as they try to make their mark on American ice.

In figure skating, United States skaters will be battling the Russians as Irina Slutskaya takes the ice presenting what will most likely be an almost unbeatable show. She will, of course, be tested by our own young American athletes, some of them making their opening debuts.

Many nations are competing for the top three spots and fighting for the right to hear their national anthem. Years of sacrifice and training, piles of sweat and tears, come to a point during one little song. Right after the gold medal is placed aroud the neck, the dream becomes a reality.

Of course you can’t stop the best from winning, true talent and hard work pay off in the end, but that’s what the Olympics are all about.