And if it seems like wejustwent through the Olympics, well, you wouldnt be wrong.
(As forhow to watch the Olympics?
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Olympians Alysa Liu, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Erin Jackson
Kaillie Humphries (Bobsled)
Bobsledder Kaillie Humphries, 36, is a familiar face for Winter Olympics fans.
As Humphries discusses in herFebruary digital cover storyfor SELF, she left Team Canada seeking a safer work environment.
They won the U.S. Beijing will be the first Olympics for both athletes.
In Beijing, LeDuc will make history as the first publicly out non-binary Winter Olympian, according toU.S.
My hope is that the narrative shifts more to, Queer people can be open and successful in sports.
Weve always been here, weve always been a part of sports.
We just havent always been able to be open.
Roque grew up in Sault Ste.
Minority players need representation.
I want to be a piece of that and say, Im here.
But Mariah Bell is hoping to change that.
In January, when the 25-year-old won the U.S.
Figure Skating Championshipand solidified her spot in Beijingshe became the oldest national champion in 95 years.
This was her first national title in nine appearances at the U.S. Im 25, shesaidto the media after her national title.
Its not like Im ancient.
But in skating, I kind of am.
And I want it to be a known fact that skating doesnt end at a certain age.
Bells coach, Adam Rippon, was also a late bloomer by most standards.
Becoming a mom has helped change her perspective on the sport.
As athletes, sometimes you let a sport define you.
But Im not my results.
Im all these other things, she told SELF inher February digital cover story.
We really have to push to see to it athletes come first.
If you take care of athletes, the medals will come after that.
Despite her athletic success, things havent gone completely smoothly since then.
Im going to go off.
At only 32, shell be the oldest U.S. Olympic female hockey player ever.
It is one of those things where you kind of look around and say, Wait a second.
How am I approaching an opportunity for a fourth Olympic Games?
Itll be tough, though, as Shiffrin has dealt with her own struggles over the past four years.
Because thats a skill Ive been able to do for my whole career.
So thats come back very well, and made a big difference.
One interesting twist that shell face in Beijing?
But Diggins is taking it all in stride, and looking to it as another new opportunity.
Alysa Liu (Figure Skating)
Figure skating phenom Alysa Liu was forced to withdraw from the U.S. Olympic host country China holds special meaning, too, as its her fathers native country.
If it doesnt, thats also fine, but if it does, thats really cool.
But then it also gives me confidence, because nobodys gone faster than Ive gone.
