US Airways - January 2014 - (Page 44)

Keep your eye out for these U.S. Olympians at next month's Winter Games. By Brion O'Connor Winter W arriors This February, thousands of the world's elite competitors will descend on Sochi, Russia, for the 2014 Winter Olympics. The quadrennial event, to be held February 7-23, will feature nearly 100 events in 15 sports, with athletes who have not only prodigious skills, but also fascinating individual stories. Amanda Kessel Chicks with Sticks The 1998 U.S. women's Olympic hockey team caught the nation's imagination when they won the inaugural women's hockey gold medal in Nagano, Japan. In the 2010 games, Amanda Kessel watched her older brother Phil - an NHL all-star with the Toronto Maple Leafs - finish just shy of gold as the U.S. men's team fell to Canada in overtime. Now, it's Amanda's turn. "That was a neat experience, to be a spectator," Kessel says. "I can't even imagine how it'll feel to be playing. The Olympics is like our Stanley Cup. It's something I've been working toward my entire life. When you reach that, it's almost unbelievable. It hasn't quite set in." Last year, this 5-foot-6, 130-pound dynamo led the Minnesota Golden Gophers to an undefeated season (41-0-0, the first perfect season in NCAA women's hockey history) and a national championship. In 37 games, Kessel rang up 46 goals and 55 assists for 101 points to lead the nation in scoring. Today, the 22-year-old Kessel represents a sport ★ 44 JANUARY 2014 usairwaysmag.com that's still in the middle of a dizzying growth spurt. "You're seeing girls really get into hockey when they're younger," she says. "For the girls on the national team, our big goal is to spread the game. It's cool to be a part of that." http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - January 2014

Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Hot Spots: Winter Festivals
Wine & Dine: Pastries
Style Spotlight: Carry-On Essentials
Diversions: ArtistWorks
Great Escapes: Hotel Zetta
Great Escapes: Quintero Golf Club
Gear Up: Smart Kitchen
Travel Feature: Vail and Beaver Creek Ski Resorts
US Airways: The Airline's Fleet
Winter Warriors: Olympic Athletes
Celebrate Oakland, CA
Best of Health: Miami Foot & Ankle Surgery
Cactus League
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - January 2014