28 Jan 2014

US to send 230 athletes to Sochi

11:27 am on 28 January 2014

The United States will send 230 athletes to next month's Winter Olympics in Sochi.

It is the the all-time largest athlete delegation of any nation in Winter Games history.

The team includes 106 returning Olympians and 99 from the contingent that topped the overall medal count at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

Alpine skier Bode Miller is one of the more popular members of the U.S. team that also includes familiar names such as skier Julia Mancuso, speed skater Shani Davis and snowboarder Shaun White.

Nordic combined skier Todd Lodwick will become the first American to compete in six Winter Olympics when he attempts to go one better than the silver medal he won in the men's team event at Vancouver.

Lodwick is competing in all three Nordic combined events in Sochi.

Miller will contest five events - the downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom and super-combined - as he attempts to add to his collection of five Olympic medals.

One notable absentee from the team will be Olympic downhill champion Lindsey Vonn, one of the biggest attractions in winter sport, as she recovers from knee surgery.