U.S. Olympic hopefuls
JAY HAKKINEN
Age: 24
Hometown: Kasilof, Alaska
Occupation: U.S. Biathlon Team
Career highlights: 1998 Olympian; 7th in sprint, 2001 World Cup, Oberhoff, Germany; 6th in sprint, 2 000 World Cup, Osrblie, Slovakia.
Quote: "I'm just going for racing at my ability."
JEREMY TEELA
Age: 25
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska
Occupation: U.S. Biathlon Team, U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program
Career highlights: 9th in sprint, 20th in pursuit, 2001 World Championships, Poklijuka, Slovenia.
Quote: "I've always wanted to win a gold medal."
LAWTON REDMAN
Age: 25
Hometown: Florence, Vt.
Occupation: U.S. Biathlon Team, U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program
Career highlights: 1st in individuals, 1st in pursuit, 2001 National Championships, West Yellowstone, Mont.; 1st in sprint, 1st in pursuit, 2001 World Team Trials, Lake Placid, N.Y.
Quote: "My skiing and shooting got better as the season went on."
LOWELL BAILEY
Age: 20
Hometown: Lake Placid, N.Y.
Occupation: U.S. Biathlon Team
Career highlights: 1st, 2001 Europa Cup World Junior Championships, Switzerland.
Quote: "It (World Junior Championships) was a bittersweet ending to my junior career."
CURTIS SCHREINER
Age: 34
Hometown: Day, N.Y.
Occupation: U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program
Career highlights: 1994, '92, '98 Olympian; 6th, 2000 World Cup Military Championships, Austria
Quote: "By the time of the Olympic trials, I will know each inch of the trails."
ANDREA NAHRGANG
Age: 23
Hometown: Wayzata, Minn.
Occupation: U.S. Biathlon Team, U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program
Career highlights: 2nd in pursuit, 3rd in sprint, 2001 World Team Trials, Lake Placid, N.Y.; 1st, individual, 1998 National Championships, Lake Placid.
Quote: "I will make the (Olympic) team."
JILL KRAUSE
Age: 23
Hometown: St. Cloud, Minn.
Occupation: U.S. Biathlon Team, U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program
Career highlights: 5th in sprint, 9th in pursuit, World Team Trials, Lake Placid, N.Y.
Quote: "It's hard to say that I will make the Olympic team, but I have to see myself there. I have to believe it."
KRISTINA SABASTEANSKI
Age: 32
Hometown: Milford, N.H.
Occupation: U.S. Biathlon Team, U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program
Career highlights: 1998 Olympian; 1st, pursuit, 2001 National Championships, West Yellowstone, Mont.; 4th, pursuit, 2001 World Team Trials, Lake Placid, N.Y.; 10th, individual, 1999 World Cup, Lillehammer, Norway.
Quote: "You can't get too cocky . . . I think it is going to be really competitive this year."
RACHEL STEER
Age: 23
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska
Occupation: U.S. Biathlon Team
Career highlights: 1st, 1999 World Team Trials, Lake Placid, N.Y.; 26th, sprint, 1999 World Cup, Ruhpolding, Germany; 29th, individual, 1999 World Championships, Holmenkollen, Norway.
Quote: "My high school coaches Randy and Tasha Bergt motivated, inspired and helped me enjoy the sport."
DEBORAH NORDYKE
Age: 39
Hometown: Alaska but now lives in Day, N.Y.
Occupation: full-time mom training with U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program
Career highlights: 1998 Olympian; 12th, 2000 Military World Championships, Austria
Quote: "(Biathlon) has always been a great family environment."
The top international biathletes
RAPHAEL POIREE
Age: 27
Hometown: France
Career highlights: 2001 world champion; 7th relay, 19th individual, 1998 Olympics.
OLE EINAR BJOERNDALEN
Age: 27
Hometown: Norway
Career highlights: 2nd place world ranking; 1st (gold medal) sprint, 2nd relay, 7th individual, 1998 Olympics; 7th relay, 28th sprint, 36th individual, 1994 Olympics, Lillehammer.
FRODE ANDRESEN
Age: 28
Hometown: Norway
Career highlights: 2nd (silver medal) sprint, 19th individual, 1998 Olympics.
MAGDALENA FORSBERG
Age: 34
Hometown: Sweden
Career highlights: 2001world champion; 17th sprint, 10th relay, 14th individual, 1998 Olympics.
LIV GRETE SKJELBREID-POIREE
Age: 27
Hometown: Norway
Career highlights: 2001 3rd world champion; 23rd sprint, 3rd relay, pursuit and 15th individual, 1998 Olympics.
OLENA ZUBRILOVA
Age: 28
Hometown: Ukraine
Career highlights: 2001 2nd world champion; 5th relay, 28th individual, 1998 Olympics.
