Hometown: Federal Way

Vitals: 27, 5-foot-8, 165 pounds

Past Olympics: Salt Lake City '02 & Turin '06

When to watch: Feb. 13, 17, 20, 24, & 26

Ohno, 28, has a chance to set a new standard for U.S. Winter Olympians in Vancouver. Ohno is tied with long track speed skater Eric Heiden for the most winter medals in a career for an American man with five. One more medal ties the all-time American record of six set by speed skating legend Bonnie Blair.

"I still feel like I'm one of the best skaters in the world," Ohno said in September, "and any given day I can vie for hitting the top of the podium."

Hometown: Federal Way

Vitals: 19, 5-foot-8, 140 pounds

Past Olympics: None

When to watch: Feb. 13, 17, 20, 24, & 26

Sure, Ohno might be the most famous Winter Olympian the state has ever produced, but Celski could be Washington's biggest star in Vancouver. That is if he's able to return to full strength after a gruesome accident in September at the Olympic trials.

Celski cut his thigh to the bone during the trials and needed surgery to fix the damage. He returned to the ice in November and is reportedly performing well.

"I think it's realistic for me to be back to 100 percent in time for the Olympics," Celski said.

Celski has already proven he's a force on the world stage. He won five medals - including two golds - at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in March.

Hometown: Cle Elum

Vitals: 22, 5-foot-7, 175 pounds

Past Olympics: None

When to watch: Feb. 14

The reigning mogul skiing world champ realized his dream of qualifying for the Olympics on Wednesday afternoon by winning the trials in Steamboat Springs, Colo.

"It's always been my dream to ski in the Olympics," Deneen said in September.

Deneen is the second-ranked U.S. mogul skier. He finished fourth in a World Cup race on the Olympic course at Cypress Mountain in February.

Hometown: Bremerton

Vitals: 29, 5-foot-10, 167 pounds

Past Olympics: None

When to watch: Feb. 23-24

Schaaf, 29, and teammate Emily Azevedo are in good position to make the Olympics as the third sled from the United States.

Schaaf, a converted skeleton racer, is the third-ranked ranked sled in the U.S. and will only qualify for the games if the U.S. gets three sleds into the Olympics. So far, so good. Schaaf is currently eighth in the World Cup standings. Schaaf is the reigning national champ.

Hometown: Leavenworth

Vitals: 29, 6-foot-2, 180 pounds

Past Olympics: Salt Lake City '02 & Turin '06

When to watch: Feb. 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, & 28

Koos, 29, currently ranks third in the country in the overall cross country rankings making him a strong candidate to make his third Olympic team.

"He's a veteran on the team and he's been part of the movement to bring the national team to the next level," said Andy Newell, USA's No. 2-ranked cross country skier.

Koos, Newell and Kris Freeman will lead an American team trying to earn its first Olympic medal since Bill Koch won silver in 1976.

Hometown: Kent

Vitals: 29, 5-foot-6, 120 pounds

Past Olympics: None

When to watch: Feb. 16-21, 23, & 25-26

Joraanstad, 29, is a member of the most accomplished women's curling team the United States has ever sent to the Olympics.

The Kentridge High graduate teamed with Wisconsin-based skip Debbie McCormick after both failed to qualify for the 2006 Olympics. Their team has dominated the sport in the U.S. ever since, winning the last four national championships.

The team has had mixed results at the world championships, with its best result coming in '06 when it finished second. The U.S. has never won a medal at the Olympics in women's curling, but Joraanstad says her team expects to change that in February.

Hometown: Tonasket

Vitals: 33, 5-foot-11, 180 pounds

Past Olympics: Salt Lake City '02 & Turin '06

When to watch: Feb. 14, 16, 18, 21, & 26

Teela, 33, is 61st in the World Cup standings but he proved in March he's capable of big things on the world stage.

In March, Teela finished third in a World Cup race at Whistler Olympic Park, the same course that will be used for the 2010 games. It was the best finish of his career. Teela made the Olympics in '02 and '06.

Hometown: Woodinville

Vitals: 32, 6-foot-2, 190 pounds

Past Olympics: Turin '06

When to watch: Feb. 17

Niccum finished 23rd in luge at the 2006 games in Torino, but hopes to do much better this time around now that he's switched to two-man luge.

Niccum, who'll be 32 when the games begin, has teamed with Dan Joye of San Jose, and after a slow start to the season, qualified for the games earlier this month.

Hometown: Blaine

Vitals: 25, 5-foot-8, 164 pounds

Past Olympics: None

When to watch: Feb. 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, & 25

No American lives closer to Vancouver than Thatcher. Thatcher, a 25-year-old forward who made the U.S. women's hockey team's final cut on Dec. 17, is from Blaine. Thatcher is a native of New England and starred for Providence College before moving to the Northwest to play semi-pro hockey in Vancouver, B.C.

Thatcher was an All-American at Providence scoring 167 points in 132 games. This is her first Olympics.

Hometown: Seattle

Vitals: 27, 5-foot-6, 136 pounds

Past Olympics: None

When to watch: Feb. 15, 17, 19, 22, 25, & 27

Brooks, 27, is 16th in the nation - not nearly high enough to earn one of likely six spots on the women's team. But her position should change dramatically when the new rankings are released this month, said John Farra, director of the U.S. Nordic program.

After finishing in the top five of every race this season and winning three races, Brooks is expected to move up as high as sixth in the rankings.

"She's not just saying, 'Hey, consider me for the Olympic team,'" Farra said. "She's banging on the door making it clear she is one to reckon with."