Olympic Speed skating

American speedskater Shani Davis is headed into Sochi trying to do something that no American has ever done: win three straight gold medals in a single event at the Winter Games.

The 31-year-old is the face of American speedskating. In his fourth Olympics, Davis will have more eyes on him than ever as he attempts to skate his way into the history books.

I had a chance to talk with Davis as he promoted McDonalds' #CheerstoSochi campaign, a program that encourages fans to tweet their messages of support to their favorite Olympians and gives the athletes a chance to print out their favorite messages and wear them on ribbons. 

Davis is excited about the chance to hear directly from fans during these Games.

"It empowers me to want to do my job," he said. "I know so many people back home and possibly even all over the world are rooting for me, and I just want to make sure I leave everything out there on the ice for them so that they know at the end of the day I did the best I could."

The sponsorship opportunities and incessant media obligations are new to Davis, who was often overlooked in the past due to the superstardom of his friend, short-track legend Apolo Ohno.

"There was no real spotlight for me," Davis admitted. "'[Ohno] was a true celebrity and sports star; I just had to wait my turn in line."

Clearly confident with his new-found celebrity status, Davis was polite and enthusiastic throughout our talk, thrilled at his opportunity to make history and ready to use his veteran status to his advantage.

"I'm just as excited as I was my first Olympics, but not as nervous because I know what to expect," he said. "I have the experience now."

Davis first started skating when he was only six years old in Hyde Park, Chicago. His family loved roller skating, and when he showed a natural affinity for the skates, his mother had hopes that he would become a roller dancer. But Davis had no interest in that, and he found his calling when his mother's boss recommended that he try speedskating.

"I'm just a competitor at heart," he said. "The whole reason I wanted to start skating was simply just to skate fast."

And skate fast he did. Davis steamrolled through the roller skating competitions and soon transitioned from wheels to blades. He then became one of the top speedskaters in the nation.

He was on the Salt Lake City short-track team in 2002 as an alternate, and though he didn't even compete, he made history simply by being there. Davis was the first black speedskater ever named to the U.S. Olympic team, and the impact of his nomination was felt immediately.

"Back in 2002 I didn't even participate," he said. "I was just an alternate. But just me making the team meant so much to so many people."

In fact, his participation in the Olympics that year inspired the creation of the Inner City Excellence (ICE) program in Washington D.C. According to its website, ICE is a "skating-based youth excellence program" that "unites urban youth from all backgrounds in the common pursuit of excellence in body, mind, and spirit." Davis is an honorary board member and still goes back to visit the kids whenever he can. 

"They had all these kids who looked like me skating because of what they saw on TV," he said, "because I stood out and I was different." 

From there, Davis continued to grow as a skater and a champion. He switched from short-track to long-track speedskating, and in 2006, he became the first black athlete from any nation to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics when he became the champion in the 1,000 meters. He also won the silver that year in the 1,500 meters and repeated both feats in the 2010 Games in Vancouver.

While Davis appreciates the fact that he is a pioneer and likes to give back when he can, he doesn't dwell on the color of his skin.

"I don't necessarily care so much about 'first black' and all this other stuff," he said. "It would be different if I was like, Jackie Robinson, and there were a whole bunch of different black speedskaters, and I was the first one to break the trend and be successful at it, but I'm one of very few.

"I'm proud of it, but I don't let that define who I am. I'm just a guy who tries his best.... I try and keep it simple," he said.

Keeping it simple must be working for Davis. He's once again a favorite in the 1,000-meter race and a contender in the 1,500 meters and has high hopes headed into these Games.

"For me, a successful Olympics would be defending my title in the 1,000-meter race, maybe winning my first ever 1,500-meter race and doing the best we can as a team in the team pursuit," he said. 

With a nation watching him closer than ever before, Davis has the opportunity in Sochi to become an American Olympic legend, and, at long last, a household name. 

The men's 500-meter speedskating event gets underway on Monday, and it should offer even more thrills than the captivating sport already has at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

A loaded field of world-class skaters should create a compelling slate of races. The men will hit the ice seeking to dash to the finish at Adler Arena Skating Center, as opposed to the longer distances that require more patience and stamina.

These thrilling showcases will offer a bit more immediacy than the longer-winded 3,000-meter events did. There are two races overall, and the skaters will determine their finishes by their two combined times in those races.

In anticipation of the entertaining sprints of speedskating, let's take a look at the men's final in terms of which skaters to watch for and the competitors likeliest to take home the hardware.

Note: Statistics and information are courtesy of Sochi2014.com unless otherwise noted.

When: Monday, Feb. 10 (telecast begins at 7:30 a.m. ET)

Where: Adler Arena Skating Center at Olympic Park, Sochi, Russia

TV: NBC Sports Network

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

Men's 500-meter preview

The field is headlined by all three of the previous Olympics' medal winners in defending champion Mo Tae-bum of South Korea, and Japan's Keiichiro Nagashima and Joji Kato, who were silver and bronze medalists respectively.

Mo topped Kato in a thrilling finish at the last 500 meters World Cup race in Berlin.

On the United States' side, the outlook appears to be up in the air. Shani Davis won the 1,000 meters at the two previous Winter Games and figures to be a favorite in this shorter sprint to take home the gold medal, while USA 500-meter record-holder Tucker Fredricks also figures to be a top competitor.

But Davis is accustomed to having more time to get into his rhythm, and Fredricks has fallen off this past season, with a 12th-place finish in the previous Winter Games on his resume, too.

Fredricks is 29 but has a nagging bulging disk that has held him back, yet he still feels he can compete at an elite level, citing the veteran Kato as proof that his best may be still to come, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Gary D'Amato:

Joji and I were talking about it last year. His personal (best) was in 2005 and mine was in 2007. We couldn't believe it had been that long since we set personal bests. Once you get to a certain level it's hard to achieve those times. But finally last year Joji set another personal best. I was excited for him and it was inspirational for me because if he can do it, I can do it.

The Dutch have fared well thus far, with all three of the podium positions in the 5,000-meter event being occupied by the Netherlands, led by blazing fast two-time reigning gold medalist Sven Kramer.

Michel and Ronald Mulder figure to be top competitors in this one, seeking to join their compatriots in bolstering their nation's medal count in the process. AP reporter Raf Casert was impressed with Michel Mulder's recent blazing time, and noted that the 27-year-old considered himself a favorite:

Thus, there is no shortage of intriguing storylines ahead of this one.

Look for the former Mulder brother, who placed third in the aforementioned Berlin competition, to earn a medal and for Davis to challenge despite his previous expertise in slightly longer events. In the end, it will be Mo Tae-bum retaining his title, becoming just the fourth man to successfully do so in this event.

Prediction: Gold—Mo Tae-bum; Silver—Shani Davis; Bronze—Michel Mulder

The 2014 Olympics kicked off on Saturday with an incredible performance by Sven Kramer in the men's 5,000-meter speedskating event. He set a new Olympic record when he posted a time of 6 minutes, 10.76 seconds and took home the gold medal for the Netherlands.

Sunday should feature just as much excitement as the ladies' 3,000-meter event is set to take place. Another Netherlands athlete looks to dominate, as Irene Wust will take the ice. She won the gold medal in 2006 and is no stranger to this competition.

However, she will not be without challengers.

Claudia Pechstein of Germany won the gold medal in the latest World Cup, and Czech Republic's Martina Sablikova won the silver medal. Both women finished ahead of Wust, who took home the bronze medal in the event.

According to NBCOlympics.com, these three athletes have combined for a total of 15 Olympic medals, including nine golds.

For those looking for a strong showing from the United States, you may have to turn toward a different event. Team USA's strongest skater in this event is Jilleanne Rookard. She finished 12th in the 2010 Olympics and is a long shot to medal here.

Viewing Information

What: Speedskating: ladies' 3,000 meters

Where: Adler Arena

Watch: NBC

TV Time: 3 a.m. ET

Live Stream: NBC Olympics Live Extra

Prediction

Although Pechstein and Sablikova were able to get the best of Wust the last time the three athletes skated together, Wust has found success in Sochi before, and she is primed to do it again.

According to ESPN.com: "[Wust] showed that she loves the ice in Sochi by coming home from the 2013 World Championships with gold medals in the 1,500, 3,000 and team pursuit as well as silver in the 1,000 and 5,000."

Gold: Irene Wust, Netherlands

Silver: Claudia Pechstein, Germany

Bronze: Martina Sablikova, Czech Republic

One of the most anticipated events of the Winter Olympics is speedskating, and there are a few superstars getting set to dominate the field when the action kicks off in Sochi. 

One day after the opening ceremony, on Feb. 8, the first race (men's 5,000 meters) took place at Adler Arena, with Dutch skaters sweeping the podium. 14 days later, on Feb. 22, the men's and women's team pursuits will close out the action, with 12 medal events in total throughout the two-week bonanza. 

Athletes from all across the globe will compete in these Games, and the pressure to perform at their best will be intense. 

“I definitely think there’s going to be pressure,” U.S. Olympian Heather Richardson said, as noted by the Associated Press, via The Columbus Dispatch. “I’ve just got to remember to take deep breaths and have fun. That’s when I skate my best.”

Here's a look at what to expect from the top speedskating stars at the 2014 Winter Games. 

Shani Davis, USA

Shani Davis is the biggest star on a loaded U.S. team that could make some serious waves at Sochi. The 31-year-old Olympics veteran will be attempting to earn a three-peat in the men's 1,000-meter race after winning gold in 2006 and 2010.

He's also going to be competing in the 1,500-meter race—an event he's finished in second place the past two Winter Games. 

Davis is still extremely driven to succeed, despite his past success. 

"Anytime I step out on the ice and I put my hood on, I have something to prove," he said, as relayed by Paul Newberry of the Associated Press, via the Evanston Review. "It's not easy. These guys are getting stronger and stronger."

With younger skaters like Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands and Zbigniew Brodka of Poland coming on strong in recent years, Davis will need to bring his A-game to Sochi if he wants to continue building his legacy as an all-time great.

Projections: Davis will once again claim gold in the 1,000-meter race, and he'll win bronze in the 1,500-meter race.

Martina Sablikova, Czech Republic

You know you're a star when people start calling you, "The queen of skating."

This is the moniker Czech superstar Martina Sablikova earned after winning double-gold in the women's 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter races during the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

She won the gold in the 5,000-meter race at the Sochi World Championships in 2013, which was her sixth straight world title in the event, as NBC's Amanda Doyle pointed out:

Sablikova also won a silver in the 3,000-meter race during those championships, and she'll be favored to finish on the podium in both races during the Winter Games. 

At this point, it seems the only thing that could slow her down in her favored 5,000-meter race is her own health, which caused some problems in 2013, as detailed by Reuters, via NBCOlympics.com:

Last year her back caused her problems while a groin injury was to blame for her last placed finish in the 1500m World Cup event in Salt Lake City in November.

Sablikova says she feels 'good now', though, and results have confirmed that theory. She leads the 3,000m/5,000m World Cup standings after three wins in four events this year.

Projections: Sablikova will win gold again in the 5,000-meter race and silver in the 3,000-meter race.

Heather Richardson, USA

Heather Richardson of the United States is the biggest challenger to Canada's Christine Nesbitt, who has seen her status as the top women's star in the 1,000-meter race diminish in the past year or so. 

In fact, Richardson's biggest competition could come from her own team, as Brittany Bowe will push her to the limit. The two American stars are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the World Cup standings for the 1,000-meter race, with Richardson holding down the top spot.

She spoke about the benefit of having a top competitor for a teammate recently, via The Columbus Dispatch:

We’re teammates, friends, competitors and roommates. It’s really special to have one of the fastest, if not the fastest, girl in the world on my team, working with me day in and day out. We’re really lucky to have each other.

Richardson will compete in three races—the 500-meter sprint, the 1,000-meter and the 1,500-meter races. She's the favorite to win the 1,000-meter and should finish on the podium in the 500-meter, but it will be surprising if she medals in the longer race.

Projections: Richardson will win bronze in the 500-meter sprint, gold in the 1,000 meters and will finish off the podium in the 1,500-meter race.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78 

Sven Kramer defended his speedskating gold medal by winning the men's 5,000 meters competition Saturday at Adler Arena Skating Center in Sochi, Russia.

He joined silver-medalist Jan Blokhuijsen and bronze winner Jorrit Bergsma to make an all-Dutch podium.

After being a bit off the pace in the first half of the race, Kramer kicked it into another gear to post a winning time of six minutes, 10.76 seconds—4.95 seconds faster than his closest peer.

Below is an overview of the top 10 competitors: 

Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times tweeted what we were all thinking: 

Kramer captured the gold in this event at the 2010 Vancouver Games but was disqualified from the 10,000-meter competition that year for a lane-changing mix-up.

As frustrating as that had to be, the 27-year-old bounced back in a big way. Kramer left his partner, USA's Jonathan Kuck, in the dust by more than 20 seconds.

NBC's Willie Cornblatt noted that Kramer's time was an Olympic record:

Dutch royalty—King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Sports Minister Edith Schippers—turned out to witness Kramer's display. King Willem-Alexander talked about what it meant and the impact Kramer had on his country, per the Associated Press, via NBC:

"What can you say? We could never have hoped for such a great result," the king, himself a keen speed skater, said. "That Sven was able to deliver despite such pressure, it leaves me speechless. What can you say, such a great Olympic record."

The Chicago Tribune's Jared S. Hopkins added that his win was quite historic: 

For Russia, Denis Yuskov and reigning bronze-medalist Ivan Skobre both seemed destined for the podium. That is, until the final few pairings, where Jorrit Bergsma and Jan Blokhuijsen posted their times.

Jonathan Kuck was the USA's best chance to post a respectable finish, but running against the likes of Kramer showed the disparity, and he wound up in 19th place.

With two more competitions to go, Kramer will be looking to pull off a hat trick of gold medals. As impressive as the Dutch were in capturing all three medals in the 5,000 meters, it was even more captivating to witness how far ahead Kramer was of his peers.

As challenging as it may be to view this action live in the U.S., Kramer is worth the effort to tune in. Blink, or doze for a wink of sleep, and you just might miss him.

Olympic speedskating is always a must-watch event. Whether it's the grace of long-track or the frenetic, unpredictable pace of short-track, speedskating always seems to capture the attention of Americans. While it's usually not a popular sport, especially in non-Olympic years, when it's on, it does well. Skaters like Apolo Anton Ohno have made it into the mainstream.

This year should be no different. There are a number of skaters from multiple countries that have a chance to medal. And with that, a chance at becoming a true breakout star.

Below, we'll give you a full TV listing. Below that, we'll take a look at some of the breakout stars to watch. 

2014 Winter Olympics Info

Where: Sochi, Russia

When: Saturday, February 10 - Saturday, February 22 

Watch: NBC

Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com

Mobile: NBC Sports Live Extra App (iPhone/iPad|Android) 

Complete Viewing Information

Complete Day-by-Day Sochi Competition Schedule

Complete Sochi Olympic Television Listings

Shim Suk-Hee, South Korea

Seventeen-year-old South Korean Shim Suk-Hee has taken the speedskating world by storm and should leave these Games as a household name all over the world.

Shim is the favorite in the 1,000- and 1,500-meter events and is also a member of the 3,000-meter relay team that is a contender for gold.

She comes into this tournament as the two-time defending World Cup-overall champion. In 2014, she finished first in the 1,000-and 1,500-meter events, as well as the relay.

Here, Shim dominated the competition in a race in Torino:

Shim is poised to take home a number of medals and leave Sochi as a star.

Mitchell Whitmore, USA

After a brutal showing in 2010, Mitchell Whitmore is back and is one of the American favorites in  the 500-meter race.

In 2010, Whitmore finished 37th in the 500-meter. That finish promoted a renewed focus on long-track, after dabbling in both long and short-track.

That was a good decision for Whitmore. He finished 12th-overall in the 2013 World Sprint Championships and won the U.S. Olympic trials. 

Granted, it may be an uphill battle for Whitmore, who will have to deal with favorite such as the Mulder twins.

But coming off a fantastic performance at the trials, it would not be a surprise to see Whitmore medal. And given how Americans love to watch speedskating every four years, a medal will vault Whitmore into the national consciousness.

Heather Richardson, USA

Heather Richardson is one of the favorites in the long-track 1,000-meter race, and a win would make the 24-year-old quite famous.

After failing to medal in 2010, a competition where she didn't finish higher than ninth, Richardson has rebounded quite well. She finished first overall in the World Cup at the 1,000-meter distance and also took home the World Sprint Championship in the 2012-13 season.

At the U.S. trials, Richardson won the 500-meter, the 1,000-meter and the 1,500-meter events. She is a contender in all events at Sochi.

Her best event, however, is the 500-meter, where Brian Cazeneuve of Sports Illustrated predicted her to win a bronze. 

Should Richardson medal, look for her to be featured in advertising campaigns after the Olympics. Of the three listed here, she could become the biggest star. 

The United States team is hoping to medal in as many events as possible at the Sochi Olympics, and speedskating gives the team a chance to grab some golds.

With talent and experience at the international level, there are a number of top contenders in various events in the long-track competition. If everyone lives up to their potential, the Americans could come away with multiple gold medals in Russia.

While speedskating features a lot of different competitions and athletes, these are the ones you need to watch when they step on the ice.

Shani Davis

Davis is the star attraction as one of the most successful Americans entering the 2014 Olympics. He won two gold medals in the 1,000-meter event in 2006 and 2010 and will look for a third this time around.

Additionally, he wants to improve upon his result in the 1,500-meter event, as he was only managed a silver in two tries.

The difference in 2014 is that Davis has become a star back home. He discussed his newfound popularity with Nancy Armour of USA Today:

It's not like I ever didn't want to be the face of the Olympics. There were other athletes who had a higher profile. 

I was a goodie in a vending machine behind eight other awesome snacks. Now people are enjoying me for who I am.

With people around the world now cheering him on, David will hope to win multiple golds in Sochi.

Brian Hansen

Although Shani Davis is the favorite in both the 1,000-meter and 1,500-meter events, Brian Hansen will not be too far behind.

The 23-year-old athlete was part of the U.S. team's pursuit in 2010, winning a silver medal in the process. This should give him confidence to go out and compete in the individual competitions at a high level.

He certainly has been training hard for a medal:

It will be difficult to top Davis in either event, but Hansen has the speed to at least get onto the medal stand alongside his veteran teammate. The United States coaches would be thrilled to see a one-two finish in Sochi.

Heather Richardson 

Unlike other competitors, Heather Richardson is not a big fan of limiting herself to one competition. The long-track athlete will battle at the 500-meter, 1,000-meter and 1,500-meter events and has a chance to medal in each.

Former U.S. star Dan Jansen discussed Richardson's hype coming into the games, via Jeff Mills of the News & Record: "There’s a reason: She’s really good. I don’t know how to handicap Heather’s chances. I mean, what’s the best odds there are? She’s one of the top three skaters in the world at three different distances. So if everything just goes normal, she’ll win three Olympic medals."

She has been dominant at the World Cup, winning 26 medals in her career in the 500-meter and 1,000-meter events alone. She has eight career gold medals in the 1,000-meter event and should be able to come through with an Olympic medal this year as long as she lives up to expectations.

Based on what we have seen so far, there is little reason to doubt her this time around. 

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.

Don't blink, or you'll miss the fast-paced excitement offered up by Olympic speedskating in Sochi.

A relatively new Olympic event that was introduced in 1992, the short-track speedskating games have since grown to include five different distances. The wide platitude of events gives us several battles to watch.

Some past winners, most notably 2010 gold-medal winners Charles Hamelin and Shani Davis, will return to the grand stage in hopes of obtaining glory once again. In their way will stand plenty of fresh faces looking to swerve past them.

Here is a look at the full speedskating TV schedule, all of which will air on NBC and/or NBC Sports, along with some of the biggest names on tap. 

Top Stars to Watch

Charles Hamelin, Canada

Hamelin enters Sochi as the favorite to capture his fourth Olympic medal for Canada, and possibly more.

In 2010, Hamelin won gold in the 500 meter as well as the 5,000-meter relay. After dominating during the four years between, he'll have a large target on his back in the 2014 Olympics.

He won six World Cup races this year, cementing him as a top contender to take home gold in Sochi. The victory also helped him earned Air Canada Athlete of the Year.

At age 29, Hamelin told The Canadian Press' Marc Delbes that he feels "at his peak" right now. That's a scary thought for the competition, which includes Russia's Viktor Ahn and the United States' J.R. Celski. If he was just warming up in 2010, we could see something special from the Canadian short-track star this time around. 

Shim Suk-Hee, South Korea

Teenager Shim Suk-Hee is predicted to steal the show in her first taste of Olympic action.

The 17-year-old South Korean has taken two overall World Cup titles in both her years in action, making her a prime breakout candidate for the Sochi Games.

Shim is tabbed to win both the 1,000- and 1,500-meter events, and she'll also join a South Korean team that can push for gold in the 3,000-meter relay. That's a tall pile of pressure to exert on such a young athlete, but her dominance since lacing up her skates at age seven is too great to ignore.

Shani Davis, United States

With eight-time Olympic medal winner Apolo Ohno retired, Shani Davis has become the natural successor as the face of U.S. speedskating.

Even if Ohno took to Sochi to spread the word about $5 subs, the big story would still be Davis' quest to become the first American to win three straight gold medals in the same event. The 31-year-old can accomplish that feat by claiming first again in the 100 meter.

Davis is certainly taking a unique path to stardom. He is training by himself in preparation for his fourth Olympic event, a rarity in his sport. While he has become a focal point for the Sochi Games, the poorly funded speedskating team is hardly a normal road to take.

Via USA Today's Nancy Armour, he discussed the oddity of a Chicago native taking up speedskating.

Where I grew up, no one had even heard of speed skating. Chicago had Michael Jordan, Walter Payton, the Super Bowl Shuffle with the Bears, the Blackhawks. You can see why lot of kids in that area wanted to do basketball and football and things like that. But I walked to a different beat of a drum. I loved skating from the first day I put the blades on.

He has a chance to make the sport more prominent than ever by taking home the gold again.