SUI WENJING, 22, & HAN CONG, 25 CHINA, FIGURE SKATING
The chemistry between the figure skaters has sparked rumours online and in Chinese media that they are romantically involved.
While Sui has denied the speculation, there is no doubt what a gold medal for the pairs world champions in Pyeongchang will mean to her. In 2016, she was out for nine months after operations on her right ankle and left foot, and was bedridden for three months. She had to learn how to stand, walk and skate again.
NORIAKI KASAI, 45 JAPAN, SKI JUMPER
The ski jumper is poised to become the first athlete to compete in eight Winter Olympics.
It will be the latest record set by the three-time Olympic medallist. He is the oldest Olympic ski jumping medallist (41 years and 254 days) and oldest ski jumping World Cup champion (42 years and 176 days).
PITA TAUFATOFUA, 34 TONGA, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIER
When Taufatofua first captured global attention as the oiled and topless Tongan flag-bearer at the 2016 Summer Olympics, he had never been on skis.
But, after a year of training on roller skis in the heat of his tropical island homeland and at his Australian base in Brisbane, the taekwondo exponent at the 2016 Rio Games will make his Winter Olympics debut as a cross-country skier.
MARIT BJORGEN, 37 NORWAY, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIER
She has returned from maternity leave to make history at her fifth and final Games.
She has 10 Olympic medals, the same number as fellow cross-country skiers Raisa Smetanina of Russia and Italy's Stefania Belmondo. And another will see her stand alone as the the most decorated female Winter Olympian.
REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
