The Beijing Olympics start today and air through Sun., Feb. 20. To get you excited about all of the athletic talent competing this year, we’ve put together a list of 6 San Diego-based athletes to watch this winter.
Check out the schedule + plan your Olympic events watch party in advance. And, don’t forget the Paralympic Games from Fri., Mar. 4-Sun., Mar. 13.
Going for the gold, representing the red, white + blue. | Photo courtesy of @KaillieHumphries
🛷 Kaillie Humphries | Bobsled | Carlsbad
Kaillie moved south from Canada and now calls Carlsbad home. The two-women bobsled champion is already highly decorated: two gold medals from 2010 + 2014, and a bronze from 2018. This year will be different though — she’ll represent team USA rather than Canada, and she’ll compete in the monobob in addition to the two-woman bobsled.
DYK: The women’s monobob — a solo race including pushing, driving, and breaking — is one of this year’s new events.
🏂 Shaun White | Snowboarding | Carlsbad
Born + raised in San Diego, this three-time gold medalist calls Carlsbad home. Beijing will mark his fifth consecutive, and maybe last, appearance in the Winter Games where he will compete in the snowboard halfpipe. Outside of the Games, he shreds at the X Games + FIS Alpine Ski World Cup, and he even had his own video game.
🏂 Lindsey Jacobellis | Snowboarding | Encinitas
This snowboarder was born in New England, but can be found skating + surfing in Encinitas when she’s not training in the snow. She’ll be racing in the snowboardcross for her fifth Winter Games, and hopes to add a gold medal to the silver she won in 2006.
🏂 Tessa Maud | Snowboarding | Carlsbad
From Encinitas to Carlsbad, Tessa has been a San Diegan her whole life — but she earned her competitive edge by carving the slopes of nearby Mammoth Mountain. The 18-year-old snowboarder will compete in the halfpipe for her Olympic debut.
🛷 Elana Meyers Taylor | Bobsled | Oceanside
Born in Oceanside, Elana now claims Georgia as her home. She was selected to carry the US flag at the Opening Ceremony, but had to put the flagbearing on hold after testing positive for COVID-19. She’s currently in isolation, but hopes to compete in the two-woman bobsled + monobob — events set to start on Sun., Feb. 13.
🏂 Seamus O’Connor | Snowboarding | Ramona
The Ramona-born snowboarder will compete for Ireland this year, but he takes some California pride to the halfpipe — he learned to ski in Big Bear.
ProTip: If you don’t have cable + are looking for ways to stream your favorite events, here’s how.