PARK CITY, Utah -- Just like in high school, where you have freshman athletes and senior athletes, Team USA is no different — it’s filled with rookie athletes as well as seasoned Olympians and Paralympians. And just like in high school, where some were named Most Likely to Succeed and others Most Likely to Become President, we felt the same honors were owed to Team USA. Check out the labels we bestowed upon some of the winter athletes at the 2017 Team USA Media Summit.
Least Likely To Forget
Paralympic Nordic skier Aaron Pike, who is dating three-sport Paralympic athlete Oksana Masters: “We met at the Sochi Opening Ceremony so it’s easy to remember the anniversary of when we met. I just have to do the math.”
Most Modest
Figure skater Adam Rippon, who injured himself right before world championships last season: “I am going into the U.S. championships and into this Olympic season just focusing on what I can do. And you know what? I know that if I do everything to the best of my abilities, I’m pretty good! So I hope that the judges see that and that I can be on that Olympic team.”
Best Athlete Perk
Ice dancers and siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani, who skated to Coldplay’s “Fix You” two seasons ago: “We we were just in Vegas for iHeartRadio to do a meet and greet with the band.”
Coolest Sibling
Freestyle skier David Wise on how he supports his sister, Christy, who is currently competing in the Invictus Games after losing her leg in a boating accident: “I would love to be there supporting her, but I’m checking in all the time, asking her how she’s doing, what she’s feeling like. She’s a star. In a lot of ways, she’s better than me at a lot of things, so it’s fun for me to see her go from being a pilot to a competitive athlete again.”
Most Likely To Convert A Tennis Player
Bobsled pilot Elana Meyers Taylor, who has already brought track stars Lolo Jones and Lauryn Williams to her sport, on who she would pick if she could have any athlete she wanted on her team: “Serena Williams. I’d even take her post-baby, if I could get her in the back of a sled. She’s just got so much power. I can’t imagine what it would be like for her to push a sled.”
Most Patriotic
Figure skater Jason Brown on why he chose to skate to “The Room Where It Happens” from “Hamilton,” the musical. “When the music came out I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is so American.’ I’m all about Team USA and Team USA spirit, so being able to bring something like that to the Olympic stage is a dream of mine. I really cannot wait to hopefully bring the house down with that. I mean I want to be in the room when it happens, and I hope everyone else wants to be in the room when it happens.”
Best Worst Family Members
Freestyle skier Devin Logan on what it’s like growing up the youngest of five kids: “To this day, we joke about it, but it’s tough love in my family. Even with a silver medal, I got a, ‘Good job, but you’re the first loser.’ But I wouldn’t be the person that I am or where I am without them. So I guess you can’t pick your family, right? But I love them.”
Biggest Rivals-Turned-Friends
Ice hockey forward Amanda Kessel on her favorite memory from her youth hockey career: “I grew up playing in Wisconsin and I was lucky enough to play (U.S. teammate) Brianna Decker quite a bit. So I’d have to say, probably beating her.”
Most Likely To Get Scared
Luger Tucker West on why it’s important to start his sport at a young age: “I would be terrified if I tried luge for the first time now. That’s why you start young.”
Most Ironic
Curler Jamie Sinclair on how you can tell if a curling match is going well: “Basically what you’re trying to do is get as many of your color stones as close to the middle of the house as possible. The bullseye is called the house. So in curling we throw rocks at houses.”
