With any luck, Aspen locals should expect to see familiar faces in the 2014 Winter Olympics.  The exciting event of the Olympics will be even more astonishing when more than a dozen of Aspen’s locals try to qualify.

Aspen has had a good number of athletes in the Olympics before; however, this time Aspen isn’t hoping for only a few spots, because Aspen has fourteen hopefuls.  All fourteen competitors may not qualify; but a few of the athletes are considered potential medal winners.  The list of athletes from Aspen includes Alice Mckennis, Kati Ryan, Wiley Maple, and Dow and Dean Travers in the event of alpine skiing; Jordie Karlinski and Gretchen Bleiler in the event of snow-boarding; Torin Yater-Wallace, Alex Ferreira, and Meg Olenick in the event of free style; Noah Hoffman, Simi Hamilton, and Michael Ward in the event of nordic skiing, and Jeremy Abbot in the event of figure skating.

The 2014 Winter Olympics are being held in the large city of Sochi, Russia.  The games will begin on February 6 and end on February 23.  Not only will the 2014 Winter Olympics be exciting for Aspen, but they will also be incredibly exciting because it is the debut year for women ski slope style.

“It was announced two years ago that my sport, ski slope style, would be allowed in the games so I guess I have been dreaming of the Olympics ever since the day I heard it has been a possibility,” Olenick said.

Competing in this event is not the only event the only thing that Olenick wants to get out of the Olympics.  She definitely wants to take in every moment and remember this experience her entire life.

“I’m so excited to meet and watch different athletes from all over the world,” said Olenick.

While Olenick has just gotten the chance to compete in the Olympics this year, Noah Hoffman has tried to qualify for the Olympics for many years.  He attempted to make it to the Olympics four years ago, but didn’t qualify.  This year, however, he is well prepared and his goal is no longer to simply make it to the 2014 Olympics, but to finish top ten at the Olympics.

Hoffman, like many other athletes, has been greatly inspired by his older teammates and hopes that he can inspire children once he goes to the Olympics.

“My older teammate, Kris Freeman, has been an inspiration to me because of his work ethic and his commitment,” said Hoffman.

Similar to Olenick, Hoffman wants to enjoy every moment of the games; however, he is not only looking to enjoy the Olympics and make new friends, he is more importantly hoping that he goes there and performs well and gains experience for 2018.

An arising question is what are these athletes going to do if they win gold at the Olympics?  While some might stay with their sport, others may try for something new.

Olenick is hoping that her life won’t change a whole lot; however, she would love to have her face on a cereal box and influence young girls to get involved in sports.  She would also really like to open up ski camps all over the country.

Hoffman is hoping that once he wins a gold medal, he will return to the U.S., take advantage of the media opportunities and then go on vacation to a warm beach.

There are many other athletes, similar to Hoffman and Olenick, who are just as driven and anxious to see if they will make it to the Olympics, so Aspen you better get ready to cheer on our fourteen hopefuls as they continue their journey.