Michigan students, alumni, faculty, and other affiliates alike love, more than anything, to brag about Michigan. The Big House fits more people than any football stadium in the country. The Law Quad was the only place in the US considered for the filming of Harry Potter. And my personal favorite: When Gerald Ford was president, he often has his presidential band play “Hail to the Victors” when he walked into a room instead of “Hail to the Chief.” One of the things we love most to brag about is our massive network of students and alumni—the largest living alumni base of any university—and, more importantly, all the cool things that Michigan students and graduates do. Because it seems like wherever something important is happening, there’s a Wolverine involved somewhere.
Naturally, the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia are no different. Out of Team USA’s six ice dancers, five are current or former Michigan students. (Is that some kind of record? I bet it is.) Whether you’ve been watching the games religiously or you just caught a few seconds of it from the window of a bar on South U, this is your guide to who you should be watching.
Meryl Davis (27) and Charlie White (26)
Is this their first trip to the Olympics? Nope! They were the 2010 Silver Medalists in Vancouver.
How are they doing in Sochi? They helped lead Team USA to a bronze medal on February 10.
What do they have to do with Michigan? They’re current students.
Anything else I should know? They’ve been skating as partners since 1997, making them the longest existing pair of US ice dancers.
Here they are posing in the law library for the New York Times! So studious.
Alex (22) and Maia Shibutani (19)
Is this their first trip to the Olympics? Yes, and they’ve been live-tweeting everything!
How are they doing in Sochi? Their group’s competition starts on February 15, but they’ve been training and making public appearances, including one on the Today Show.
What do they have to do with Michigan? They’re current students, and they’ve lived in Ann Arbor since Alex’s junior year of high school.
Anything else I should know? They’re the first ice dance team of Asian heritage to win a medal at a major ISU championship. Also, they make and produce their own YouTube videos.
Here they are on the cover of Skating Magazine… casually posing in the Law Quad. Don’t think we didn’t notice!
Evan Bates (24)
Is this his first trip to the Olympics? No, he placed eleventh at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
How is he doing in Sochi? We’ll see on February 16, when he and his partner Madison Chock will compete.
What does he have to do with Michigan? He was born and raised in Ann Arbor and graduated from Michigan in December 2013.
Anything else I should know? Even though he skates for Team USA, he’s always rooting for his favorite team.
Here he is repping a Block M at the Great Wall of China. I bet the Michigan Instagram account reposted it. How could they not?
Look at them waving at their adoring fans! Good luck, guys–and, as always, go blue!