The best reason for not having your homework done is probably something along the lines of, “Sorry, I was competing at the Olympics!” While you won’t be able to get away with it, for these eight college students, it’s a valid excuse. With the Sochi 2014 Winter Games approaching, the last thing on these Olympians’ minds is that they have a paper due next week; they’re more concerned about how well they’ll preform on the slopes or on the ice. Granted, most Olympic student athletes take a semester or a year off to train, but don’t they still make you feel a little bad about your work ethic? Mad props to these athletes for staying in school and simultaneously being Olympic superstars!
Keep reading to meet a few of Sochi 2014’s youngest and brightest, then cheer them on when the Winter Olympics start on February 7!
1. Michelle Picard, Harvard University
Michelle Picard is one of three Harvard University undergraduates competing on the US women’s ice hockey team. Michelle is an archeology major at Harvard and has been playing for the Harvard hockey team for two seasons. According to her offical Team USA bio, while not the ice she enjoys reading and playing tennis. Follow this young Olympian on Twitter for funny pics of her teammates and an off-the-ice look into what it’s like to be a Winter Olympics athlete.
2 & 3. Alex and Maia Shibutani, University of Michigan
This brother-and-sister duo doesn’t have to worry about sibling rivalry – they’re on the same team! Alex and Maia Shibutani are siblings going for the gold. This year marks their 10th year as ice-dancing partners. Their decade of hard work is surely paying off, because in a few days they’ll be competing for Team USA at the 2014 Winter Olympics. The siblings are both undergrads at the University of Michigan. Check out their YouTube channel, ShibSibs, for funny vlogs and videos of them on the ice.
4. Emily Bamford, Bates College
Alpine skier and Australian native Emily Bamford attends Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. She took a year off from school to prepare herself for the Olympics and to take part in competitions around the world. Now following her dream, Emily will be wearing green and gold at Sochi while representing the Australian Olympic team. She skied for the Bates alpine ski team for two years, but her eyes are set on bigger slopes in Russia. Keep up with Emily on Instagram; her latest photo shows her and fellow Olympic teammate, Lavinia Chrystal, celebrating after hearing that they would be headed to Sochi!
5. Lyndsey Fry, Harvard University
Lyndsey Fry is another Harvard student headed to Sochi, Russia, for the Winter Games! Originally from Arizona, Lyndsey is a Harvard class of 2015 student. Lyndsey’s friend and former teammate Elizabeth Turgeon passed away in December 2010. Before she died, they made a pact with each other that they would compete together at the Olympics someday. Lyndsey will bring Elizabeth’s old jersey to the Olympics with her as a good luck charm and as a way to honor Elizabeth’s memory and their promise.
6. Kate Hansen, Brigham Young University
Kate Hansen’s Team USA bio claims that she was the youngest U.S. luge junior world champion at age 15. Not only that, but she also recently won the World Cup luge finale in Latvia. Kate is the first US women’s luger to do so in 17 years (and what have you done today?)! Kate, 21, will be representing the USA at Sochi 2014 as a member of the women’s luge team. She is a junior at Brigham Young University in Utah.
7. Luke Steyn, University of Colorado Boulder
Luke Steyn attends the University of Colorado Boulder but took a year off to prepare for the Olympics. Born in Zimbabwe, he moved to Colorado for college. Remarkably, at just 20 years old, Luke will be the first Zimbabwean to ever compete at the Winter Olympics. It has snowed in Zimbabwe once, but that was in the 1960s! Luke said he is determined to represent his country with pride. He will be competing in the alpine skiing event at Sochi.
8. Josephine Pucci, Harvard University
Josephine Pucci is one of four Harvard undergrads on the USA women’s hockey team. She’s studying psychology and is originally from Pearl River, New York. Josephine is #2 on Harvard’s women’s ice hockey team but will be competing as #24 for Team USA in Sochi. Watch this adorable video of Josephine talking to the students at her old elementary school!
If you could take a year off of school to compete in the Winter Olympics, which event would you choose? Let us know in the comments and remember to keep reading HC’s Olympic Blog, Sochi Scoop, for all things Olympic-related! Two days until Sochi 2014 officially begins!