Advertisement
Streaming

Go inside the Winter Olympics thanks to these USA athletes’ Instagrams

What better way to get an eagle’s eye view of the Olympics than from the athletes themselves?  

Photo of Michelle Jaworski

Michelle Jaworski

Article Lead Image

The London Olympics were widely called the “first-ever social media Olympics,” and with even more apps and websites available for athletes, this is only sure to grow in Sochi.

Featured Video

While Olympians used Instagram in 2012, the app has grown considerably in user numbers since then, and video is now available. Sure, it’s not the same as wearing a GoPro camera on your helmet, but it’s about as close as we can get to the games without being there.

We’re already getting a taste of Sochi from the reporters descending on the city, but now that the athletes are arriving (and practicing), we’re getting an intimate look at everything from the Olympic Village to the courses where they will eventually compete. And who doesn’t want to see Olympic selfies?

Many members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams (as well as many of the events’ official teams) are active on Instagram, and we’ll be sure to refresh our feeds come the Opening Ceremony. In the meantime, here are some good accounts to follow.

Advertisement

 

Jeremy Abbott, Figure Skating

It’s Abbott’s second Olympics representing Team USA (he finished ninth in Vancouver), but that doesn’t mean the sheen of competing in it has worn off yet. 

Advertisement

 

Jamie Anderson, Snowboarding

Anderson won a medal at the Winter X Games at age 15 and hasn’t slowed down since. She’s also won gold on the Dew Tour seven times, the 2013 World Cup, and the 2012 Canadian Open.

Advertisement

 

Eddy Alvarez, Speed Skating (Short Track)

After missing out on the Vancouver Olympics, Alvarez made the U.S. World Cup team and became the first Cuban-American male speed skater to make the U.S. Olympic team. He plans to pursue baseball after Sochi.

Advertisement

 

Evan Bates, Figure Skating

A member of the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating team, Bates is returning with a new skating partner, Madison Chock.

Advertisement

 

Erik Bjornsen, Cross-Country Skiing

Bjornsen was named an NCAA All-American in 2011 and made his debut onto the world stage in 2012. His sister, Sadie, is also a cross-country skier.

Advertisement

 

Aaron Blunck, Freestyle Skiing

Blunck competed at the inaugural Youth Olympic Winter Games in 2012 and has since started competing at the world level.

Advertisement

 

Maddie Bowman, Freestyle Skiing

For Bowman, skiing runs in the family. She is the daughter of two former professional skiers, and the high school senior has made headway in the few years she’s entered the professional spotlight.

Advertisement

 

Greg Bretz, Snowboarding

Bretz won his first World Cup victory in 2008 and placed 12th in the Vancouver Games before being named to the U.S. Olympic team.

Advertisement

 

Bobby Brown, Freestyle Skiing

Brown already has a big following on Instagram and at one point had his own YouTube Web series. He specializes in slopestyle and big air competitions.

Advertisement

 

Jason Brown, Figure Skating

Brown already caught our eye when his performance at the 2014 U.S. Figure Skating Championships went viral, but he’s already accomplished much on the junior and senior level.

Advertisement

 

Cory Butner, Bobsled

Butner already has three World Cup medals to his name and is looking to add an Olympic medal to his collection.

Advertisement

 

Sophie Caldwell, Cross-Country Skiing

Caldwell made her debut at the World Cup in December 2012 and finished 20th overall at the 2013 World Championship.

Advertisement

 

Alex Carpenter, Ice Hockey (Women’s)

Carpenter is the daughter of former NHL player Bobby Carpenter and was the youngest player on Team USA for a three-game exhibition against Canada in 2010.

Advertisement

 

Kyle Carr, Speed Skating (Short Track)

Carr missed a shot at the 2010 Olympics by a hundredth of a second, but this time he snagged a spot this time around. He’s also part of the U.S. team that set the national relay record, but plans to retire after Sochi.

Advertisement

 

Marissa Castelli, Figure Skating

Castelli and her partner, Simon Shnapir, have been skating together since 2006 and won two national titles at the U.S. Championships before heading to Sochi.

Advertisement

 

J.R. Celski, Speed Skating (Short Stack)

Celski is returning to the Olympics after winning two bronze medals in Vancouver, and he’ll appear in a one-hour NBC special called How to Raise an Olympian

Advertisement

 

Taylor Chace, Sled Hockey

This is the third Paralympics for Chace, who helped the U.S. Sled Hockey team win bronze in Torino and the gold in Vancouver.

Advertisement

 

Madison Chock, Figure Skating

Along with her partner Evan Bates, they finished fourth at the 2012 U.S. International Classic and won silver at the 2014 U.S. Championships before making it to Sochi.

Advertisement

 

Lauren Cholewinski, Speed Skating (Long Track)

Cholewinski has been competing since 2007 and was named to the U.S. team for the Vancouver Olympics.


 

Advertisement

Kelly Clark, Snowboarding

Clark is returning for her third Winter Olympics after winning gold in Salt Lake City and bronze in Vancouver. She’s also competed in the Superpipe at the Winter X Games and Winter Dew Tour.

 

Advertisement

Emily Cook, Freestyle Skiing

Cook has competed in Torino and Vancouver after missing the chance to go to Salt Lake City following an injury and ranks second overall in the aerials rankings.

 

Advertisement

Stacey Cook, Alpine Skiing

Cook has skied since she was four. She’s competed in Torino and finished 11th overall in Vancouver.

 

Advertisement

Nick Cunningham, Bobsled

Cunningham is a Sergeant in the New York National Guard who has competed since 2008. He placed 12th in the two-man event and 13th in the four-man event in Vancouver.

 

Advertisement

Lyman Currier, Freestyle Skiing

Currier made an impression on the rookie circuit during the 2011-2012 season, and ended up on the top of the podium at the 2014 U.S. Grand Prix in Park City, Utah prior to Sochi.

 

Advertisement

John Daly, Skeleton

Daly started as a BMX racer, but stopped after he broke both wrists following a practice run. He qualified for Vancouver and won gold at the 2013 World Championships.

 

Advertisement

Danny Davis, Snowboarding

Davis failed to get a spot on the 2010 team after suffering from a back injury, but more recently he won first place in the 2014 Men’s Snowboard Superpipe.

 

Advertisement

Meryl Davis, Figure Skating

Davis won the silver with partner Charlie White in Vancouver. The duo have been skating together since 1997, making it the longest-lasting dance team in the U.S.

Davis was the first Black athlete from any nation to win gold in an individual sport (speed skating 1,000 meter) in Torino, and he defended the title in Vancouver. He’s also won two silver medals in the 1500 meter.

Advertisement

 

Brianna Decker, Ice Hockey (Women’s)

Decker plays for the Badgers at the University of Wisconsin, and she was appointed to the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2011.

Advertisement

 

Jessie Diggins, Cross-Country Skiing

Diggins made her debut in 2011, and along with teammate Kikkan Randall, won the team sprint at the 2013 World Championships.

Advertisement

 

Alyson Dudek, Speed Skating (Short Track)

Dudek won the bronze for the 3,000 meter relay in Vancouver after South Korea was disqualified. She’s also won the bronze at the 2009 and 2011 World Team Championships and the 2010 World Championships.

Advertisement

 

Meghan Duggan, Ice Hockey (Women’s)

Duggan was part of the 2010 U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey team that won silver in Vancouver and the team that won gold at the 2013 Women’s World Championships.

Advertisement

 

Polina Edmunds, Figure Skating

Edmunds won the silver at the 2014 U.S. Championships, which was the first time she competed at the senior level.

Advertisement

 

Aja Evans, Bobsled

Evans competed in track and field (even trying out for the 2008 Olympics) before switching to the bobsled. She earned the silver at Calgary and gold at Park City during the most recent World Cup season.

Advertisement

 

Kaitlyn Farrington, Snowboarding

Farrington became the first woman to perform a backside 900 and consistently finished towards the top at the Winter Dew Tour and Winter X Games.

Advertisement

 

Declan Farmer, Sled Hockey

Farmer was born as a bilateral amputee and started skating for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team in 2012 before joining the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team.

Advertisement

 

Jazmine Fenlator, Bobsled

Fenlator started bobsledding in 2007 and switched to the driver’s seat after competing as a brakeman for a few years.

Advertisement

 

Julia Ford, Alpine Skiing

Ford won gold at the U.S. National Championships in 2011 and 2012 for downhill skiing and has been part of the World Cup circuit.

Advertisement

 

Travis Ganong, Alpine Skiing

Prior to Sochi, Ganong had his best season yet where he finished 18th overall in the season and won the gold at the 2013 U.S. Championships.

Advertisement

 

Arielle Gold, Snowboarding

The 17-year-old has already competed at the Winter Youth Olympic Games and the Winter X Games prior to Sochi, where she is joined by her brother (and teammate) Taylor.

Advertisement

 

Gracie Gold, Figure Skating

The 2014 U.S. National Championship winner earned the highest-ever scores in the short program and and the free program to earn her spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.

Advertisement

 

Taylor Gold, Snowboarding

Taylor Gold already has a wealth of experience on his own. He’s been competing since 2011 in the Junior World Championships, U.S. Grand Prix, and the Winter Dew Tour.

Advertisement

 

Preston Griffall, Luge

Griffall finished eighth in the men’s doubles luge event in Torino and serves as a member of the U.S. National Guard in Utah.

Advertisement

 

Jamie Gruebel, Bobsled

Gruebel joined the U.S. Bobsled Team in 2007, where she made the transition from brakeman to pilot.

Advertisement

 

Chas Guldemond, Snowboarding

Guldemond started snowboarding professionally in 2005 and he had a solid run at the 2012 and 2013 U.S. Grand Prix.

Advertisement

 

Simi Hamilton, Cross-Country Skiing

Hamilton competed in the 2010 Olympics, where he finished 29th of 96 skiers and finished 13th in the relay.

Advertisement

 

Erin Hamlin, Luge

Hamlin finished 12th in Torino and 16th in Vancouver, where she was the highest-placed American in the individual event.

Advertisement

 

Brian Hansen, Speed Skating (Long Track)

Hansen won the silver in the team event in Vancouver and has since won medals at the World Junior Championships.

Advertisement

 

Kate Hansen, Luge

Hansen broke her foot in October in the middle of a race (and won) but managed to heal in time to qualify for the Sochi team.

Advertisement

 

Sarah Hendrickson, Ski Jumping

Hendrickson is part of the first-ever women’s ski jumping team to attend the Olympics.

Advertisement

 

Jessica Jerome, Ski Jumping

Jerome has been competing since 2001 and became the first woman to win the U.S. Olympics Trials in women’s ski jumping.

Advertisement

 

Lolo Jones, Bobsled

Jones competed as an Olympic hurdler in 2012 and got recruited for the bobsled team after the London Olympics.


 

Advertisement

 

Patrick Kane, Ice Hockey (Men’s)

The Chicago Blackhawks right wing/center won his first Stanley Cup in 2010 and was part of men’s hockey team that won silver in Vancouver.

Advertisement

 

Nolan Kasper, Alpine Skiing

Kasper has been skiing since age 3 and placed 24th in the Olympic Slalom at Vancouver.

Advertisement

 

Aidan Kelly, Luge

Kelly was inspired to take on luge after he saw a commercial for the sport during Torino. He’s one of three lugers to compete in the men’s single’s competition.

Advertisement

 

Amanda Kessel, Ice Hockey (Women’s)

Kessel plays for the University of Minnesota, and her brother, Phil, also plays for Team USA on the men’s hockey team.

Advertisement

 

Hilary Knight, Ice Hockey (Women’s)

Knight played for the University of Wisconsin and was part of the 2010 U.S. women’s hockey team that won gold in Vancouver.

Advertisement

 

Sage Kotsenburg, Snowboarding

Kotsenburg has competed professionally since age 12 and will compete alongside Shaun White and Chas Guldemond.

Advertisement

 

Jocelyne Lamoureux, Ice Hockey (Women’s)

Jocelyne played for the Minnesota and North Dakota during her college career, and, along with her twin sister Monique, won silver in Vancouver.

Advertisement

 

Monique Lamoureux, Ice Hockey (Women’s)

The ice hockey forward played for Minnesota and North Dakota before playing for the U.S. in Vancouver.

Advertisement

 

Emery Lehman, Speed Skating (Long Track)

Lehman won his first national event at age 12 and will compete in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter events at Sochi.

Advertisement

 

Ted Ligety, Alpine Skiing

Ligety is a four-time World Cup champion in the giant slalom and won the gold for combined in Torino.

Advertisement

 

Chris Mazdzer, Luge

Mazdzer has competed since 2001 and finished 13th at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Advertisement

 

Jordan Malone, Speed Skating (Short Track)

Malone started skating at age 5 and participated in his first competition in 1995. He won the bronze in the 5,000 meter relay at Vancouver.

Advertisement


 

Julia Mancuso, Alpine Skiing

Mancuso won the gold in the giant slalom in Torino and silver in both downhill and combined in Vancouver.

Advertisement

 

Joey Mantia, Speed Skating (Long Track)

Mantia holds three world records for the road race and switched to speed skating on ice in 2011.

Advertisement

 

Brianne McLaughlin, Ice Hockey (Women’s)

McLaughlin is the goalie for the women’s ice hockey team and won the silver medal in Vancouver.

Advertisement

 

Patrick Meek, Speed Skating (Long Track)

Meek will compete in the 5,000 meter race after trying out in 2006 and 2010 and failing to make the Olympic team.

Advertisement

 

Elana Meyers, Bobsled

Meyers has already competed in Vancouver, where she won the bronze in the two-woman bobsled race.

Advertisement

 

Bode Miller, Alpine Skiing

Miller has already won five medals in four different disciplines in the Winter Olympics, making him the most decorated U.S. skier.

Advertisement

 

Andy Newell, Cross-Country Skiing

Newell made his Olympic debut in Torino and finished ninth with Team USA during the team sprint in Vancouver.

Advertisement

 

Leif Nordgren, Biathlon

Nordgren was originally introduced to the biathlon by his older sister and has regularly competed on the World Cup circuit for the past four years.

Advertisement

 

Steven Nyman, Alpine Skiing

Nyman started to compete professionally in 2006, and he made his Olympic debut in Torino, where he finished 19th in downhill, 29th in combined, and 43rd in the super G.

Advertisement

 

Johnny Quinn, Bobsled

Quinn is a former wide receiver for the Saskatchewan Roughriders (Canadian Football League) and was also signed to the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers before signing onto the U.S. bobsled team.

Advertisement

 

Kikkan Randall, Cross-Country Skiing

Randall won a medal in the team spring with Jessie Diggins at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships before Sochi.

Advertisement

 

Justin Reiter, Snowboarding

Reiter missed out on the Winter Olympics in 2006 and 2010, but he finally made the team after winning the silver medal at the 2013 World Cup.

Advertisement

 

Heather Richardson, Speed Skating (Long Track)

Richardson competed in Vancouver, where she placed sixth in the 500 meters, ninth in the 1,000 meters, and 16th in the 1,500 meters.

Advertisement

 

Jilleanne Rookard, Speed Skating (Long Track)

Rookard placed 12th in Vancouver and won the 3,000 meter event during the Olympic Trials in Salt Lake City to make the team.

Advertisement

 

Laurenne Ross, Alpine Skiing

Ross started skiing at age 7, and she specializes in downhill and super G.

Advertisement

 

Anne Schleper, Ice Hockey (Women’s)

Schleper played for Minnesota before joining the U.S. Women’s hockey team, where she’ll make her Olympic debut in Sochi.

Advertisement

 

Alex Shibutani, Figure Skating

Alex Shibutani dances with his sister Maia, and the two won the bronze medal at the 2014 U.S. Championships.

Advertisement

 

Maia Shibutani, Figure Skating

Maia is the younger of the Shibutani siblings. She started skating at age four, but didn’t start skating with her brother until 2004.

Advertisement

 

Mikaela Shiffrin, Alpine Skiing

Shiffrin specializes in slalom and giant slalom, and she won gold at the 2013 World Championships.

Advertisement

 

Leanne Smith, Alpine Skiing

Smith joined the U.S. Ski team in 2007 and moved up to the World Cup level before representing the U.S. in 2010 and 2014.

Advertisement

 

Jessica Smith, Speed Skating (Short Track)

Smith started inline skating, but she eventually switched to short track speed skating in order to go to the Olympics. She was appointed as an alternate in 2010.

Advertisement

 

Kelli Stack, Ice Hockey (Women’s)

Stack played for Boston College before competing in Vancouver and was later drafted to the Boston Blades in 2011.

Advertisement

 

Ryan Stassel, Snowboarding

Stassel finished among the top four Americans for each of the final Olympics qualifying events and has also done well at the U.S. Grand Prix.

Advertisement

 

Resi Stiegler, Alpine Skiing

Stiegler has been skiing since she was two and made her Olympic debut at the Torino Games.

Advertisement

 

Marco Sullivan, Alpine Skiing

Sullivan has competed in the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics as well as four World Championships.

Advertisement

 

Jayson Terdiman, Luge

It’s Terdiman’s first Olympics while his doubles partner, Christian Niccum, is going to his third. The duo began to share a sled after Vancouver and won a World Cup bronze medal in 2013.

Advertisement

 

Hannah Teter, Snowboarding

Teter is an Olympic veteran. She won the gold medal for halfpipe in Torino and the silver medal in Vancouver.

Advertisement

 

Sugar Todd, Speed Skating (Long Track)

Todd started to skate at age 8 and qualified for the 500 and 1,000 meter events at Sochi.

Advertisement

 

Kyle Tress, Skeleton

Tress started competing in 2002, and he finished fifth in the men’s event at the 2013 World Cup.

Advertisement

 

Katie Uhlaender, Skeleton

Uhlaender competed in Torino and Vancouver, where she placed sixth and 11th in the skeleton event respectively.

Advertisement

 

Ashley Wagner, Figure Skating

Wagner finished fourth at the 2014 U.S. Championships after falling twice during her routine, but her strong international record earned her a spot on the team.

Advertisement

 

Ty Walker, Snowboarding

At just 16, Walker has dominated the women’s slopestyle and finished fifth at the FIS World Snowboarding Championship.

Advertisement

 

Andrew Weibrecht, Alpine Skiing

Weibrecht won the bronze for super G in Vancouver and races in all five skiing disciplines.

Advertisement

 

Tucker West, Luge

At 18, West is the youngest male to represent the U.S. in Sochi in the Men’s Singles luge competition.

Advertisement

 

Charlie White, Figure Skating

White won the silver medal in Vancouver and the gold at the World Championships in 2011 and 2013 with partner Meryl Davis.

Advertisement

 

Shaun White, Snowboarding

One of the more recognizable faces at Sochi, the two-time Olympic gold medalist also holds the X-Games records for most gold medals and most medals overall.

Advertisement

 

Lauryn Williams, Bobsled

Like Lolo Jones, Williams is another Olympian who made the transition from track and field to the bobsled. She won the silver for the 100 meters in Athens and the gold for the 4×100 meter relay in London.

Advertisement

 

Felicia Zhang, Figure Skating

With skating partner Nathan Bartholomay, Zhang has won two medals at the U.S. National Championships, with the most recent silver win in 2014 earning them a spot on the team.

Advertisement

 

H/T All Facebook | Photo via celskeet/Webstagram

 

 

Advertisement

 

 

 
The Daily Dot