The 2018 U.S. Olympic Team roster is officially set with 242 athletes, the largest contingency of any country competing at the Olympics and, once again, Team Idaho has a deep and talented roster.
These are the seven athletes that we will be following closely in PyeongChang this February.
Nick Cunningham
Sport: Two-Man and Four-Man Bobsled (Driver)
Status: Qualified
Experience: Three-time Olympian
Twitter: @BOBSLEDR
Instagram: bobsledr
Facebook: Bobsledr
Birthday: May 8, 1985 (32 years old)
Hometown: Monterey, California
College: Boise State University
Following a decorated career as a sprinter in college, the former Boise State Bronco bought himself a plane ticket to Lake Placid, New York, to give the sport of bobsledding a try. The experience has turned into a decade-long run as one of the best bobsledders in the world. The only achievement that Cunningham has yet to accomplish is an Olympic medal, something he believes he has positioned himself to claim in PyeongChang.
Olympic History
- 2010 Vancouver Games: 12th (4-man); 13th (2-man)
- 2014 Sochi Games: 13th (2-man); 12th (4-man)
Dates of Competition
Sunday, Feb. 18 - 4:05 AM (2-man)
Monday, Feb. 19 - 4:15 AM (2-man)
Friday, Feb. 23 - 5:30 PM (4-man)
Saturday, Feb. 24 - 5:30 PM (4-man)
Ben Ferguson
Sport: Snowboarding
Event: Halfpipe
Status: Qualified
Experience: First-time Olympian
Birthday: 1/21/1995 (23 years old)
Birthplace: Boise, Idaho
Hometown: Bend, Ore.
High School: Mountain View High School (Bend, Ore.) '16
Team/Club: Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center
Youth Olympic Games Experience
-Innsbruck 2012, gold (halfpipe), silver (slopestyle)
Other Career Highlights
-2017 FIS World Cup Standings, 8th (halfpipe)
-2016 X Games Aspen, silver (superpipe)
-2015 FIS World Cup Standings, 8th (halfpipe)
Ben Ferguson was born in Boise and still has family there, including his grandparents. His family moved to Bend, Oregon and he began snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor when he was 6 years old. Ben has two younger brothers, one of whom is also on the U.S. Snowboarding team. His hobbies include fly fishing, mountain biking, skateboarding, surfing, painting and drawing.
Dates of Competition
Halfpipe qualifying: Monday, Feb. 12 - 9 p.m.
Halfpipe finals: Tuesday, Feb. 13 - 6:30 p.m.
Simi Hamilton
Sport: Cross-Country Skier
Status: Qualified
Experience: Three-time Olympian
Twitter: @simihamilton
Instagram: simihamilton
Facebook: simihamiltonxc
Birthday: May 14, 1987 (30 years old)
Hometown: Aspen, Colorado
College: Middlebury College
The one-time member of the Sun Valley Ski Team is getting set to make his third, and potentially his last, trip to the Olympics. Hamilton has had a highly decorated career in his sport, but an Olympic medal has eluded him to this point. Once again, Hamilton is one of the strongest members of the Team USA Cross-Country Ski Team. As he approaches the next chapter of his career, there would be no better way to finish off this impressive chapter than with a medal.
Olympic History
- 2010 Vancouver Games: 13th (4x10 relay); 29th (1.5km sprint); 64th (15km)
- 2014 Sochi Games: 5th (Team Sprint); 10th (4x10 replay); 27th (sprint)
Dates of Competition
Tuesday, Feb. 13 - 1:30 AM
Wednesday, Feb. 21 - 1:50 AM
Jessika Jenson
Sport: Slopestyle - Snowboard
Status: Qualified
Experience: Two-time Olympian
Twitter: @jessika_jenson
Instagram: jessikajenson
Facebook: JessikaJensonSnowboarder
Birthday: August 7, 1991 (26 years old)
Hometown: Rigby, Idaho
College: Utah State University
Jenson has been at or near the top of her sport for over four years now. At the 2014 Games in Sochi, she missed qualifying for the slopestyle finals by one spot. Jenson earned the discretionary pick for the slopestyle team and is up against some pretty big competition, but she does have a number of Top 10 World Cup finishes in her career, and much like Kaitlyn Farrington in 2014, is only one good ride away.
Olympic History
- 2014 Sochi Games: 13th place
Dates of Competition
Saturday, Feb. 10 -4:30 PM
Sunday, Feb. 12 - 4:45 PM
Breezy Johnson
Sport: Alpine Ski - Downhill/Super-G
Status: Qualified
Experience: First-time Olympian
Twitter: @_BreezyJohnson
Instagram: breezyjohnsonski
Facebook: breezyjohnsonski
Birthday: Jan. 19, 1996 (22 years old)
Hometown: Victor, Idaho
College: N/A
Johnson has been building momentum on the World Cup circuit over the last four years, and now, she will get the chance to make her Olympic debut. Not only is Johnson the youngest member of Team Idaho, but she is also the youngest member of the U.S. Alpine Ski Team - male or female.
Dates of Competition
Friday, Feb. 16 - 6:30 PM
Tuesday, Feb. 20 - 6:30 PM
Chase Josey
Sport: Halfpipe - Snowboard
Status: Qualified
Experience: First-time Olympian
Twitter: None
Instagram: chasejosey
Facebook: chasejoseysnow
Birthday: March 31, 1995 (22 years old)
Hometown: Hailey, Idaho
College: N/A
Immediately following the 2014 Winter Games, plenty of people pegged a then 18-year-old Josey as an up-and-comer. The Hailey-native lived up to the hype, making his first Olympic team this year. Josey is known for pushing the limit with his tricks, maneuvers that are usually accompanied by a high degree of difficulty. At just 22 years old, Josey is the second youngest member of Team Idaho.
Dates of Competition
Monday, Feb. 12 - 9 PM
Tuesday, Feb. 13 - 6:30 PM
Hilary Knight
Sport: Women's Hockey
Status: Qualified
Experience: Three-time Olympian
Twitter: @HilaryKnight
Instagram: hilaryknight
Facebook: hilaryknightfanpage
Birthday: July 12, 1989 (28 years old)
Hometown: Sun Valley, Idaho
College: University of Wisconsin
Knight has established herself as one of the premier faces of the U.S. Women's Hockey team. When she made her first Olympic team back in 2010, Knight was the youngest player on the on the women's roster. Now, not only is she one of the most experienced players heading to Pyeongchang, but she is also a team captain.
Olympic History
- 2010 Vancouver Games: Silver Medal (1 goal, 7 assists)
- 2014 Sochi Games: Silver Medal (3 goals, 3 assists)
Dates of Competition
Sunday, Feb. 11 - 12:40 AM
Tuesday, Feb. 13 - 5:10 AM
Wednesday, Feb. 14 - 8:10 PM
**NOTE: Medal rounds will likely follow**
Sam Michener
Sport: Four-Man Bobsled (Brakeman)
Status: Qualified
Experience: First-time Olympian
Twitter: @sammichener
Instagram: sammichener
Facebook: bobsledUSA2018
Birthday: May 24, 1987 (30 years old)
Hometown: Gresham, Oregon
College: University of Idaho
Over the last four years, Michener has emerged as one of the best breakman in the world. Michener, who ran track at the University of Idaho, will team up in the 4-man bobsled race along with Nick Cunningham, a Boise State alumnus. This will be Michener's first-ever Olympic Team.
Dates of Competition
Friday, Feb. 23 - 5:30 PM (4-man)
Saturday, Feb. 24 - 5:30 PM (4-man)
Caitlyn Patterson
Sport: Cross-Country Skiing
Status: Qualified
Experience: First-time Olympian
Birthday: Jan. 30, 1990 (28 years old)
Birthplace: McCall, Idaho
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska
High School: South Anchorage High School (Anchorage, Alaska) '08
College: University of Vermont '12, Civil Engineering
Team/Club: Craftsbury Nordic Ski Club
Caitlyn Patterson and her brother, Scott Patterson, were both born in McCall and spent their early years there before the family moved to Alaska. The 2018 Pyeongchang games will be the first Olympic experience for both siblings. Caitlyn's hobbies include photography, hiking and running up mountains, mandolin, violin and architecture.
Career Highlights
-2013 FIS U23 World Championships, 14th (10K freestyle), 19th (skiathlon 7.5/7.5K), 38th (sprint freestyle)
-2011 FIS U23 World Championships, 20th (15K pursuit), 26th (10K freestyle)
Scott Patterson
Sport: Cross-Country Skiing
Status: Qualified
Olympic Experience: First-time Olympian
Birthday: Jan. 28, 1992 (26 years old)
Birthplace: McCall, Idaho
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska
High School: South Anchorage High School (Anchorage, Alaska) '10
College: University of Vermont '14, Mechanical Engineering and Math
Team/Club: Alaska Pacific Nordic Center
Scott Patterson and his sister, Caitlyn Patterson, were both born in McCall and spent their early years there before the family moved to Alaska. The 2018 Pyeongchang games will be the first Olympic experience for both siblings. Scott's hobbies include running, backcountry skiing, climbing and rafting.
Career Highlights
-2015 FIS U23 World Championships, 13th (15K freestyle), 15th (skiathlon 15/15K), 39th (sprint classic)
-2014 FIS U23 World Championships, 18th (15K classic, skiathlon 15/15K)