Chad Hedrick, a former world champion inline skater, became a speedskater after the 2002 Games. He has made up for lost time. (Getty Images)
Shani Davis is a Chicago native, raised by his single mother, known for his prowess in two pursuits -- short-track and long-track speedskating -- and his relentless speed over short distances. He holds the world record in the 1,000 meters.
Chad Hedrick grew up in Spring, Tex., hanging out at a roller rink owned by his father. He made a fortune in inline skating before switching to long-track speedskating, in which he became known for his pure strength in grueling distance races. He holds the world record in the 10,000.
Davis and Hedrick, so different on the surface, tend to come together in one place on the ice: the 1,500.
In January 2005, Davis broke Derek Parra's three-year-old world record in the distance. Ten months later, Hedrick stole the record from Davis, dropping the mark from 1 minute 43.33 seconds to 1:42.78. The two are expected to duke it out for the gold in today's 1,500 final, which Parra -- who is going through a divorce and has struggled this season -- won at the 2002 Winter Games.
Sizing up a favorite is difficult. A year ago, Davis seemed unbeatable in the event. In the past year, Hedrick has seemed unbeatable in just about everything. The two have traded places at the top of the sport: In 2004, Hedrick ended a long Dutch run by claiming the world all-around title. Davis was second. A year later, Davis won the title and Hedrick was second.
OLD HAND
Chris CheliosUnited States
Hockey
Chelios, a defenseman, said he couldn't sleep for nights after learning he had made the 2006 Olympic team. He said he was nervous and excited, thinking about the opportunity and pressure. Never mind that this is Chelios's fourth trip to the Olympics. Never mind that he is 44. Never mind that he tried to make the Greek Olympic team during the NHL lockout -- as a bobsledder. Chelios, an 11-time all-star, will be trying to help the U.S. team win its first gold since the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980.
2002 FLASHBACK
Figure skatingLladies' free skate
Nobody was thinking about 16-year-old Sarah Hughes, pictured, after the short program. American Michelle Kwan and Russian Irina Slutskaya wrestled for first place after flawless skates, and Kwan took the lead by a 5-4 judges' vote. American Sasha Cohen also skated without major mistakes and was third. Hughes skated tentatively but because she made no major mistakes, she clung to fourth place. Two nights later, she executed a complex program to near-perfection to leap from fourth to the gold medal as Kwan, who finished third, and Slutskaya, second, both committed numerous errors.