01of 17Chloe KimChloe Kim/InstagramThehistory-making, gold-medal winning snowboarderhas been making puffy coats look cool for years.
01of 17
Chloe Kim
Chloe Kim/Instagram
Thehistory-making, gold-medal winning snowboarderhas been making puffy coats look cool for years.
02of 17Mariah Bell & Nathan ChenNathan Chen/InstagramHow it started: More than a decade ago, withpals Mariah Bell and Nathan Chen posing for a picin the stands at a U.S. figure skating event.How it’s going: Both are skating for the U.S.A. in the Beijing Olympics, andChen’s bringing home a gold medal.(Bell’s event takes place Feb. 15.)
02of 17
Mariah Bell & Nathan Chen
Nathan Chen/Instagram
How it started: More than a decade ago, withpals Mariah Bell and Nathan Chen posing for a picin the stands at a U.S. figure skating event.
How it’s going: Both are skating for the U.S.A. in the Beijing Olympics, andChen’s bringing home a gold medal.(Bell’s event takes place Feb. 15.)
03of 17Shaun WhiteShaun White/InstagramThe legendary snowboarder,who expects that this will be his last Olympics, reflected onhis groundbreaking careerin the sport with a cute throwback pic of him atop a podium. “I’m 35 years old and I’ve spent 29 of them on a board, 23 of them as a professional!“he wrote on Twitter. “As a kid, the Olympics didn’t even have snowboarding … I’m so proud that I helped grow and shape the sport into what it is today.”
03of 17
Shaun White
Shaun White/Instagram
The legendary snowboarder,who expects that this will be his last Olympics, reflected onhis groundbreaking careerin the sport with a cute throwback pic of him atop a podium. “I’m 35 years old and I’ve spent 29 of them on a board, 23 of them as a professional!“he wrote on Twitter. “As a kid, the Olympics didn’t even have snowboarding … I’m so proud that I helped grow and shape the sport into what it is today.”
04of 17Hilary KnightHilary Knight/InstagramThe women’s hockey legendshared a glimpseback at her childhood team gear.
04of 17
Hilary Knight
Hilary Knight/Instagram
The women’s hockey legendshared a glimpseback at her childhood team gear.
05of 17Erin JacksonErin Jackson/InstagramThe speedskater honed her skills as an in-line racer, andshared a look backat her high medal count from a 2004 nationals event.
05of 17
Erin Jackson
Erin Jackson/Instagram
The speedskater honed her skills as an in-line racer, andshared a look backat her high medal count from a 2004 nationals event.
06of 17Mikaela ShiffrinMikaela Shiffrin/InstagramBefore she was one of the greatest skiiers in the world, she was just a little kid in snow pants.“Looking back on my career to this point, I feel like a million different stars aligned to help me get to where I am,“she wrote in a postsupportingthe Share Winter foundation.
06of 17
Mikaela Shiffrin
Mikaela Shiffrin/Instagram
Before she was one of the greatest skiiers in the world, she was just a little kid in snow pants.
“Looking back on my career to this point, I feel like a million different stars aligned to help me get to where I am,“she wrote in a postsupportingthe Share Winter foundation.
07of 17Ashley Cain-GribbleAshley Cain-Gribble/InstagramFrom “those early skating days” to competing in pairs at the 2022 Olympics, the star has twirled her way to success.
07of 17
Ashley Cain-Gribble
Ashley Cain-Gribble/Instagram
From “those early skating days” to competing in pairs at the 2022 Olympics, the star has twirled her way to success.
08of 17
The hockey star’scute throwback photois total #goals. (Get it?)
09of 17Jason BrownJason Brown/InstagramThefigure skater,who is well known for his artistry on the ice,wrote a letter to his (adorable) younger self for PEOPLE.
09of 17
Jason Brown
Jason Brown/Instagram
Thefigure skater,who is well known for his artistry on the ice,wrote a letter to his (adorable) younger self for PEOPLE.
10of 17
Jamie Anderson
Jamie Anderson/Instagram
11of 17Emily SweeneyEmily Sweeney/InstagramAll luge athletes start somewhere — andEmily recalls this was her first timeat the top of the track.
11of 17
Emily Sweeney
Emily Sweeney/Instagram
All luge athletes start somewhere — andEmily recalls this was her first timeat the top of the track.
12of 17Jessie DigginsJesse Diggins/InstagramEvenback in her days competing in “maroon flannel pants,” it was clear that she was destined to be a cross-country champ (who nabbed the U.S.’s first-ever individual medal in the sport, a bronze, this year).
12of 17
Jessie Diggins
Jesse Diggins/Instagram
Evenback in her days competing in “maroon flannel pants,” it was clear that she was destined to be a cross-country champ (who nabbed the U.S.’s first-ever individual medal in the sport, a bronze, this year).
13of 17Matty BeniersMatty Beniers/InstagramRacking up trophies from the time he was little — and proving he was born to wear a hockey jersey (second photo).
13of 17
Matty Beniers
Matty Beniers/Instagram
Racking up trophies from the time he was little — and proving he was born to wear a hockey jersey (second photo).
14of 17Ryan Cochran-SiegleRyan Cochran-Siegle/Instagram"I miss doing fun things like sledding and getting away with peeing myself,“the skiier confessedin this #TBT shot. (We think winning a silver in his event nearly 50 years after his mom won gold in hers is pretty fun!)
14of 17
Ryan Cochran-Siegle
Ryan Cochran-Siegle/Instagram
“I miss doing fun things like sledding and getting away with peeing myself,“the skiier confessedin this #TBT shot. (We think winning a silver in his event nearly 50 years after his mom won gold in hers is pretty fun!)
15of 17Nathan ChenNathan Chen/InstagramAfter winning gold,Chen posted this sweet shot with his parents(and an earlier medal), saying he “couldn’t have done this without my family.”
15of 17
Nathan Chen
After winning gold,Chen posted this sweet shot with his parents(and an earlier medal), saying he “couldn’t have done this without my family.”
16of 17Red GerardRed Gerard/InstagramBy the time this photo was taken, he had already been snowboarding for several years — which led to his Olympic debut and gold medal in PyeongChang at 17. (He competed this year in Slopestyle.)
16of 17
Red Gerard
Red Gerard/Instagram
By the time this photo was taken, he had already been snowboarding for several years — which led to his Olympic debut and gold medal in PyeongChang at 17. (He competed this year in Slopestyle.)
17of 17Chris Mazdzer"When I cut out the timing, pressure and expectations of sport and can just focus on what I love to do it’s the feeling of being a kid again,“the luge star wrote ahead of his race. “I feel like that kid again.”
17of 17
Chris Mazdzer
“When I cut out the timing, pressure and expectations of sport and can just focus on what I love to do it’s the feeling of being a kid again,“the luge star wrote ahead of his race. “I feel like that kid again.”
source: people.com
