Good as gold? Four Americans to watch in Sochi.

• Position: Sochi, Russia - Brief biography

Mikaela Shiffrin

ALPINE SKIING

Age: 18 Height: 5'7" Weight: 145 pounds

From: Vail, Colorado

Known for: At 17, becoming the youngest American to win a World Cup title (4 golds at the 2013 championships)

Fun Facts: Shiffrin began skiing down her family driveway. She's the first non-European to win four World Cup slalom races in a season. She graduated from high school in August.

Shani Davis

SPEEDSKATING

Age: 31 Height: 6'2" Weight: 185 pounds

From: Chicago, Illinois

Known for: Becoming the first black athlete in the world to win gold in an individual sport at a Winter Olympics, in 2006. He also took gold in 2010.

Fun Facts: Davis started roller-skating at age 2 and speedskating at age 6. If he takes gold at Sochi, he'll become the first male skater to win the same event (1,000 m) at three consecutive Games.

Shaun White

SNOWBOARDING

Age: 27 Height: 5'8" Weight: 154 pounds

From: San Diego, California

Known for: Holding the record for most gold medals at the X Games; starrino in video games

Fun Facts: Despite undergoing surgery for a heart defect as an infant, White won his first amateur snowboarding contest at 7. He's known as...