2018 Winter Olympics: Illinois Athletes To Watch

Figure skating, skiing and snowboarding are always favorites at the Winter Olympics, which open Friday, Feb. 9, in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Several U.S. athletes have a good chance at bringing home gold medals, but you’ll also want to keep an eye out for athletes from the Chicago area, too.

The Olympic Games run for 18 days and conclude with closing ceremonies on Feb. 25. It's bitterly cold in Pyeongchang, and the forecast calls for 14-degree Fahrenheit temperatures for the opening ceremony on Friday.

Here are athletes from the Chicago area to watch for:

Kevin Bickner

Kevin Bickner, 21, of Wauconda, is one of three athletes from Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove who will be competing in ski jumping competitions at this year's winter Olympics. The 6-foot-tall, 138-pound ski jumper got his start skiing at age 9. His mother, Maureen Bickner, knew he had an adventurous streak at a young age when the usually-obedient Bickner got in trouble for climbing the flag pole at his elementary school, according to a Team USA profile on Bickner. When she scolded him and asked why he would do something so dangerous and reckless, he innocently responded: “I don’t get it! It’s not against one of the rules!” Bickner set a new U.S. record (244.5 meters) on the ski flying hill in Vikersund, Norway last March. This will be his first trip to the Olympics. Bickner's father, Tom, is a member of the USA Nordic Sport Board of Directors. He has two sister, Brandalyn and Kailey.

• You can follow Kevin on social media: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

More Here: 3 Norge Ski Jumpers Headed To Olympics

Michael Glasder

Michael Glasder, who also trained at Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove, got started in the sport when he was only 5 years old. Now, at age 28, Glasder of Cary will compete in South Korea. He finished first at the U.S.A. trials in December. The 6-foot, 150-pound ski jumper missed chances to compete in the Olympics in the 2010 and 2014, the Daily Herald reports.

• Follow Michael on Twitter and Facebook

Casey Larson

Casey Larson, another Norge ski jumper, began skiing at age 6. The 19-year-old from Barrington played lacrosse at Barrington High School. He placed eighth at the 2017 FIS Junior World Championships and this will be his first trip to the Olympics. The 5-foot-10-inch, 142-pound ski jumper has one sister, Cara, who also ski jumps. His parents are Guy and Margaret Larson.

• You can follow Casey on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Bradie Tennell

Bradie Tennell, 20, of Carpentersville, has been getting plenty of media attention since the figure skater, an unlikely candidate for the Team USA just weeks ago, landed a spot on the team after placing first at the U.S. national championships on Jan. 5. Tennell, 19, has been back in recent weeks training at her home rink, Twin Rinks Ice Pavilion in Buffalo Grove, before she left for Pyeongchang, South Korea. Tennell placed 7th at the 2017 ISU World Junior Championships and in 11th in 2016 at the ISU World Junior Championships. Bradie started ice skating at age 2. Her brothers, Austin and Shane, and her mom, Jean, will all be headed to South Korea to watch Bradie compete after United Airlines announced they would pay for their trip. Prior to that, Jean, a single mother, wasn't able to foot the bill to bring Bradie's brothers along. Bradie volunteers at an assisted-living home once a week.

• You can follow Bradie on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

MORE HERE: Bradie Tennell's Road To The Olympics

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Kendall Coyne

Hockey player Kendall Coyne, 26, of Palos Heights, will be returning for her second trip to the Olympics. Earning a silver medal in 2014 in Sochi, Russia, she is going for the gold this time. She attended Palos West Elementary and Palos South Middle School and graduated from the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Mass. in 2011. Coyne later went on to earn her B.A. from Northeastern University with a major in communications and a minor in business. Last May, Coyne completed her master's degree in corporate and organizational communication. Her parents, John and Ahlise; two brothers, Kevin and Jake; and one sister, Bailey, all still live in Palos. As a member of the U.S. Women's National Team, she has played in six International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championships (earning gold in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 and silver in2012), seven Four Nations Cups (1st place in 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2016; and 2nd in 2010 and 2014; and 3rd in 2013) and one IIHF Twelve Nations Invitational Tournament Series (in 2011).

• You can follow Kendall on Twitter and Instagram

Lana Gehring

Speedskater Lana Gehring, 26, of Glenview will be returning for her second trip to the Olympic games. She qualified for the 2018 Olympics after winning the women's 1000 meter, 1500 meter and overall at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. She competed in 2010 at the Vancouver Olympic winter games, earning a bronze medal in the 3,000 meters. She competed in 2010 in short track speedskating before switching to long track speedskating for two years before again reverting back to short track. The move worked and she will compete again as an Olympian in short track speedskating.

• You can follow Lana on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

MORE HERE: Glenview Skater First To Make Olympic Short Track Team

Northbrook Mom Remembers Olympian Daughter's Start In Glenview

Brian Hansen

This will be Brian Hansen's third trip to the Olympics. Hansen, 26, of Glenview, is a long track speedskater and qualified for the 2018 U.S. Olympic team by finishing second in the 1,500 meter and mass start. During the 2014 Olympic winter games he finished 7th in the 1,500 meter, 7th in team pursuit and 9th in the 1,000 meter. He medaled in 2010, earning a silver in men's team pursuit. He played hockey before he got into speedskating and he was a celebrity bell ringer for the Salvation Army.

• You can follow Brian on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

Shani Davis

Speedskater Shani Davis, who hails from Chicago's South Side, is making his fifth trip to the Olympic game. The 35-year-old qualified for the U.S. Olympic long-track team trials in Milwaukee last month, making it into one of three available spots on the men's team. Davis, a four-time Olympic medalist, has won two gold medals in the 1,000-meter race. At age 24, he became the first African American to win a gold medal at an individual sport at the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy in 2006. He earned his second gold medal in the 1,000 meter race in Vancouver's 2010 Olympics. Davis is considered one of the most famous Winter Olympians. Davis began roller skating on Chicago's South Side when he was 2 years old, and would dart around the roller rink so quickly that skate guards had to chase him just to ask him to slow down, according to his online biography. A coach suggested he try ice skating, and he then transitioned to speed skating. Davis joined the Evanston Speedskating Club at age 6 and started competing locally. He made the U.S. junior national team in 1999 at age 16. In 2002, he made his first Olympics as an alternate for the short track team.

• You can follow Shani on Twitter and Facebook

MORE HERE: Chicagoan Shani Davis Makes Fifth Straight Winter Olympics

Emery Lehman

Speedskater Emery Lehman, a 2014 graduate of Oak Park-River Forest High School, is making his second trip to the Olympics. The 21-year-old Oak Park native started skating at age 9 and has been selected as the team pursuit specialist for Team USA. The 21-year-old competed in speedskating in Sochi in 2014. There, he came in 10th in the 10,000-meter race and 16th in the 5,000-meter race. Lehman will have to temporarily withdraw from classes at Marquette University, where he's earning an engineering degree, to compete for Team USA.

• You can follow Emery on Twitter and Instagram

  Picture at the rings with @jagarcia23. Thanks for the gear and glasses @Nike @oakley #Olympics #WinterOlympics #TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/5TXqQ9s0uO

  — Emery Lehman (@TheEmeryLehman) February 7, 2018

  
  

MORE HERE: Oak Park Native Emery Lehman Bound For Olympics

Aja Evans

Aja Evans, 29, of Chicago will return to the Olympic games to compete in women's bobsledding. Paired again with Jamie Greubel Poser, the bob-sledding team received bronze at the Sochi games and are hoping to medal again in Pyeongchang. She comes from a family of athletes. Her brother, Fred, is the Vikings defensive tackle. Her uncle is Gary Matthews, the former hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs, and her cousin is major league baseball player, Gary Matthews Jr. Evans holds a bachelor's degree in Sports Management from the University of Illinois.

• You can follow Aja on Twitter

  American bobsledder @AjaLEvans Looks To Bring Home Gold At The Winter Olympics https://t.co/kkcAvh5yfl #blackgirlmagic #WinterOlympics2018 Photo: SI pic.twitter.com/2R86971LH6

  — Black Fitness Today (@blkfitnesstoday) February 7, 2018

Alexa Scimeca Knierim

Alexa Scimeca Knierim, 26, of Addison, will be heading to the Olympic games to compete with husband, Chris Knierim, in the pairs figure skating competition. She began skating with Chris in 2012 and the two were married in 2016. The duo are two-time U.S. National Pairs Champions (2015 and 2018) and three-time World Championship competitors. Alexa is the daughter of Tom and Tina and she has one sister, Alivia, and one brother, Derek. She graduated from the College of DuPage in 2014.

You can follow Alexa on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

See Also: When, Where To Watch The Olympics On TV, Live Streams

Photo caption: Bradie Tennell, of the United States, performs during the ladies free skate at the Skate America, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Lake Placid, N.Y. Photo credit: AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)