Best Winter Olympian from the year you were born

Lipnitskaya participated in the 2014 Sochi Games at age 15. The Russian figure skater won gold in the mixed team figured skating and finished fifth in the women's event. She has since retired from competitive figure skating.

Shim Suk-hee had quite the time in the Sochi Games in women's short track, winning gold, silver and bronze medals at age 17. The South Korean won gold in the women's 3,000-meter relay, silver in the women's 1,500-meter race and bronze in the women's 1,000-meter race.

Tianyu had a strong showing in men's short track at age 17 during the 2014 Sochi Games. The Chinese skater won silver in the men's 1,500-meter and bronze in the men's 5,000-meter relay.

A member of the Florida Panthers in the NHL, Barkov claimed a bronze medal as part of Team Finland in men's ice hockey during the 2014 Sochi Games at age 18.

Ilinykh had a spectacular Sochi Games at age 19 for Team Russia. The figure skater won gold in the mixed team and bronze in mixed ice dancing.

Kotsenburg brought home gold for Team USA in the men's slopestyle snowboarding even during the Sochi Games in 2014, garnering his first Olympic medal at age 20.

Park Seung-hi has medaled five times over the last two Winter Olympics for South Korea in women's short track speed skating. She won bronze medals in 1,000-meter and 1,500-meter during the 2010 Vancouver Games at age 17. She was able to win a bronze in the 500-meter and gold medals in the 1,000-meter and 3,000-meter relay in Sochi. 

Zhou Yang has won three golds for Team China over the last two Winter Olympics in women's short track speed skating. She won gold in the 1,500 and 3,000 relay in Vancouver at age 18 and repeated as the gold medal winner in the 1,500 in 2014 at Sochi.

Kim has been an elite performer in figure skating over the last two Olympic Games. She won gold in ladies' singles in 2010 and silver in 2014 for South Korea.

Over the last two Olympic Games, Blokhuijsen has won three medals in men's long track speed skating. Representing Netherlands, he won bronze in the team pursuit in 2010, along with gold in the team pursuit in 2014 and a silver in the 5,000.

Fourcade is a four-time medal-winning biathlete representing France. He claimed the silver medal in the 15 kilometres Mass Start in Vancouver. He improved to win two gold medals and one silver at Sochi. His gold medals were in the 12.5 kolmetres pursuit and 20 kolmetres, while he won silver in the 15 kilometres mass start for the second consecutive Olympics.

Sáblíková is a five-time medal winner in women's long track speed skating over the last two Winter Olympics. A native of the Czech Republic, she won gold in 2010 in the 3,000 and 5,000 and bronze in the 1,500. She followed up that performance by repeating gold in the 5,000 in 2014 and silver in the 3,000.

Arguably the most celebrated current Winter Olympian for Team USA, White won gold at age 19 in Torino in the men's halfpipe snowboarding competition. He repeated in 2010 but finished fourth in the Sochi Games. White is hoping to get back on the medal stand in 2018.

Ahn dominated men's short track in 2014 at Sochi, winning four medals. Born in South Korea, he represented Team Russia and won gold in the 500, 1,000 and 5,000 relay, as well as bronze in the 1,500.

Höfl-Riesch has won three gold medals and one silver over the last two Winter Olympics in women's skiing. The German won gold in the slalom and combined events in 2010. She added to her medal count in 2014 by winning silver in the Super G and another gold in the combined.

Kowalczyk has medaled five times over the last three Winter Olympics in cross country skiing. Her first medal came at age 23 in 2006 when she won bronze in the women's 30 kilmetres. She followed up that performance by winning three medals in 2010. She won her first gold in the 30 kilometres, as well as the silver in the women's sprint and bronze in the 15 kilometres skiathlon. During the 2014 Sochi Games, she won gold in the 10 kilometres.

One of the most recognizable recent Winter Olympians for Team USA, Ohno won eight medals in men's short track skating over three Olympics. At age 19, he won gold in the men's 1,500 and silver in the men's 1,000 at Salt Lake City in 2002. He had another strong performance in 2006, winning gold in the 500 and bronze medals in the 1,000 and 5,000 relay. While he failed to win gold in 2010, Ohno capped off his Olympic career with three more medals. He won silver in the 1,500 and bronze medals in the 1,000 and 5,000 relay. He has since made a name for himself by appearing on "Dancing with the Stars."

Pärson brought back six Olympic medals for Team Sweden in alpine skiing over three Olympics. She won silver in the giant slalom and bronze in the slalom during her first Olympics in 2002. He had an even better showing in 2006 at Torino, winning gold in the slalom and bronze medals in the combined and downhill. She won her last Olympic medal in 2010, finishing third in the women's combined.

One of the greatest cross country skiers in history, Bjørgen won 10 medals for Team Norway over four Olympics. She made her debut in 2002, winning silver in the 4x5 kilometres relay. She won another silver medal in Torino four years later, claiming second place in the 10 kilometres. She shined in 2010, winning gold in the sprint, 15 kilometres skiathlon and 4x5 kilmetres relay. Bjørgen added a silver in the 30 kilometres and bronze in the 10 kilometres. She was able to win three more gold medals in 2014, winning the 30 kilometres, 15 kilometre skiathlon and women's team sprint.

Klassen made her Olympic speed skating debut with a bronze medal in the women's 3,000 in 2002, but her performance in 2006 was history. She won five medals for Team Canada during the Torino Games, claiming gold in the 1,500, silver in the 1,000 and team pursuit, and bronze in the 3,000 and 5,000. She participated in three speed skating events at Vancouver in 2010 but failed to medal.

Known as one of the greatest women's hockey players ever, Wickenheiser has won five medals with Team Canada. She won silver in her debut at age 19 in 1998 and won gold in each of the next four Winter Olympics. Remarkably, she also participated in softball during the 2000 Sydney Summer Games, playing third base and the outfield.

Miller has participated in five Winter Olympics and won more major races than any American male skier. He found the medal stand in 2002, winning silver medals in the giant slalom and combined. After struggling during the 2006 Torino Games, he won gold in the combined, silver in the Super G and bronze in the downhill in 2010. Miller was able to win one more medal in 2014, finishing tied for third place in the Super G at age 36.

An elite women's biathlete from Germany, Wilhelm has won seven medals during her Olympics career. She won gold in the women's 4x7.5 kilometres relay and 7.5 kilometres sprint in 2002, as well as silver in the 10 kilometres pursuit. She won three more medals in 2006, with gold in the 10 kilometres pursuit, silver in the 12.5 kilometres mass start and silver in the 4x6 kilometres relay. She returned to the medal stand with a bronze in the 4x6 kilometres relay in 2010.

Kellar is a four-time medal winner in women's ice hockey for Team Canada. She won the silver medal in 1998, followed by three straight gold medals in 2002, 2006 and 2010.

One of the greatest Winter Olympians in history, Bjørndalen is known as the "King of the Biathlon." He has 13 Olympic medals, including eight gold, four silver and one bronze after participating in six Olympics.

A women's cross country skier from the Czech Republic, Neumannová has won six Olympic medals. She won a silver and bronze in 1998, two silver medals in 2002, and a gold and silver in 2006.

One of the greatest women's speed skaters in history, Pechstein won five gold, two silver and two bronze medals during her Olympics career for Germany. Her first win was bronze in the 5,000 in 1992, and she has participated in five more Winter Olympics. Pechstein set world records in the women's 5,000 in 1998 and again in 2002, while also setting a world record in the 3,000 that same year.

The greatest alpine skier in Norwegian history, Aamodt has won eight Olympic medals. His Olympic accomplishments include four gold medals, including three in the Super G, as well as two silvers and two bronze medals during an Olympic career that spanned five games.

Groß was able to win eight Olympic medals in the biathlon over five games for Germany. He has four gold medals, three silver and one bronze.

Belmondo has 10 Winter Olympic medals, tied for the most in history among female athletes. The Italian cross country skier started her Olympic career at age 19 in 1988 and won two gold, three silver and five bronze medals, culminating with the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Koss had a short but spectacular run over two Olympics in speed skating. The Norwegian won gold and silver in 1992 but was truly at the top of his game in the 1994 Olympics at Lillehammer. He set a world record in the 10,000 and Olympic records in the 5,000 and 1,500.

Dæhlie had a remarkable Olympic career in cross country skiing. The Norwegian claimed eight gold medals and four silver medals, finding the medal stand in three Olympics in 1992, 1994 and 1998.

Niemann-Stirnemann was an eight-time medal winner in women's speed skating. She failed to win a medal while representing East Germany in 1988, but she was able to win three medals for Germany in 1992, two medals in 1994 and three medals in 1998, including an Olympic record in the women's 3,000.

An accomplished Russian cross country skier, Lazutina won five gold, one silver and one bronze medal during her Olympic career. She won her medals over three Olympics but was disqualified in 2002 for a positive drug test.

One of the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympians in history, Blair won five gold medals and one silver during her speed skating career. She set the world record in the women's 500 in 1988 and was able to win two gold medals in 1992 and two more in 1994.

A Norwegian cross country skier, Ulvang won all three of his gold medals during the 1992 Winter Olympics. He also won two silver medals and one bronze during his Olympic career, participating in three Olympics.

Svan won six medals during his Olympic career for Sweden in cross country skiing. His wins included four gold medals, one silver and one bronze while participating in the 1984 and 1988 Winter Games. Following his Olympic career, Svan became a professional auto racer.

Enke won three gold, four silver and one bronze medal for East Germany in women's speed skating. Her wins started at age 18 in 1980, setting an Olympic record in the women's 500. She won two more gold medals four years later in Sarajevo and also found the medal stand three times in 1988.

Ehrig-Mitscherlich won seven Olympic medals in women's speed skating for East Germany during her career but only one gold.  She medaled for the first time at age 15 in the 3,000 in 1976 and won more medals in 1984 and 1988.

A West German biathlete, Angerer won one gold, two silver and two bronze medals during his career, spanning three Winter Olympics.

Heiden won five gold medals at Lake Placid in 1980 in speed skating. The United States speed skater singlehandedly won more gold medals in Lake Placid than all nations except for the Soviet Union and East Germany.

Competing for East Germany and Germany, Musiol won seven medals in bobsled. For his Olympic career, he won one gold, five silver and one bronze medal between the two- and four-man bobsled.

A Swedish cross country skier, Wassberg claimed four gold medals during his Olympics career. He won one gold medal in 1980, two gold medals in 1984 and his final gold in 1988.

Kirvesniemi was a seven-time medal winner in cross country skiing from Finland. She won three gold medals and four bronze medals, claiming all three of her golds in the 1984 Sarajevo Games.

USA Hockey fans remember Eruzione fondly as the leader of the miracle 1980 team. He scored three scores and two assists to help the U.S. win gold.

Bazhukov won three cross country skiing medals during his two Olympics. He was able to earn two gold medals and one bronze.

Smetanina is one of the most successful cross country skiers ever, winning four gold, five silver and one bronze medal for his Winter Olympics career. He represented the Soviet Union over four Olympic Games and the Unified Team in 1992, when he won his final gold medal.

Germeshausen was able to win three gold medals and one silver over two Olympic Games in the bobsled while representing East Germany.

Averina won four medals while representing the Soviet Union in the 1976 Winter Olympics. The speed skater was able to win two gold medals and two bronze medals in Innsbruck.

The most successful figure skater ever in mixed pairs, Rodnina won gold for the Soviet Union in 1972, 1976 and 1980. The Soviet skater also won 10 straight World Championships.

Known as one of the greatest female figure skaters ever, Fleming won gold in the 1968 Olympics after finishing sixth place in 1964. The California-born figure skater also won three World Championships.

Tikhonov won gold in the men's 4x7.5 kilometres relay biathlon in four consecutive Olympics from 1968-1980. The Soviet Union biathlete also won silver in the 20 kilometres in 1968.

A four-time medal-winning bobsledder from Switzerland, Schärer claimed one gold, two silver and one bronze medal during his Olympic career, which included the 1976 and 1980 Games.

An elite alpine skier from France, Goitschel won two gold and one silver. She participated in two Olympic Games, in 1964 and 1968.

Schenk won a silver medal in speed skating in 1968 for the Netherlands, but that was just a tune-up for what was to come. He was able to win three gold medals during the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo.

Killy tied a record in 1968 by winning gold in all three alpine skiing events. The French skier also participated in the 1964 Olympics at age 20.

Kulakova won eight medals in cross country skiing for the Soviet Union. Her wins included four gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Three of her gold medals came in the 1972 Olympics.

Firsov scored 20 goals during the three Olympics he participated in for the Soviet ice hockey team, winning gold in all three games.

Zimmerer represented West Germany in three Olympics. The bobsledder was able to win gold and bronze in 1972 and silver and bronze in 1976.

Skoblikova holds the speed skating record with six career gold medals. She set five Olympic records during her time and won four of her gold medals for the Soviets in 1964.

Kaiser won four medals in speed skating for the Netherlands. Her wins included one gold, one silver and two bronze medals, setting an Olympic record in the women's 3,000 in 1972.

Mäntyranta was a seven-time medal winner for Finland in cross country skiing. His first three wins were gold, and he also won two silver and two bronze medals.

Jenkins won bronze in men's singles figure skating in 1956 for Team USA. He did even better in 1960, earning the gold medal.

Sailer's performance for Austria in the 1956 Winter Olympics is known as the best ever by an alpine skier. He was the first skier to ever win all three alpine events and did so by wide margins.

Grønningen won five cross country skiing medals during his Olympic career. His first three were silver medals, while he took home two gold medals in 1968.

Johannesen won five medals in speed skating for Norway. His wins included two gold, two silver and one bronze medal.

Anikin won three cross country skiing medals for the Soviet Union. His only gold came in 1956, and he also won two bronze medals.

Grishin won four gold medals and one silver during his speed skating career. The Soviet skater won the 500 and the 1,500 twice.

A five-time cross country skiing medal winner from the USSR, Kolchina won one gold, one silver and three bronze medals during her Olympic career.

Still one of the most successful cross country skiers ever, Jernberg won nine medals during his career. The Swede won four gold, three silver and two bronze medals over three Olympic Games.

Monti had quite a run in Olympic bobsled to become arguably the greatest driver in history. The Italian won two silver in 1956, two bronze in 1964 and capped off his career with two gold medals in 1968.

Eriksen represented Norway in alpine skiing in two Olympics and won both of his medals in the 1952 Oslo Games. He won gold in the giant slalom and silver in the slalom.

Hasu medaled in both cross country skiing and nordic combined in the Olympics. Representing Finland, he won gold in the nordic combined men's individual in 1948 and silver in 1952. He also won gold in the men's 4x10 kilometres relay in cross country skiing in 1952.

Hakulinen won seven medals for Finland in cross country skiing, including three gold, three silver and one bronze medal. He also participated in the men's 20 kilometres biathlon in 1964.

Buchner had a great showing for Germany in 1952. The female alpine skier won one silver and two bronze medals.

Andersen had a tremendous 1952 Olympics in Oslo, winning three men's speed skating gold medals for Norway. His grandson, Fredrik van der Horst, skated in the 2010 Games, finishing fourth in the men's team pursuit.

Falk skated in mixed pairs figure skating with her husband, Paul Falk, and the duo were undefeated during their careers. They won gold in the 1952 Olympics for Germany.

Ostler won two gold medals in the bobsled for Germany in 1952 at Oslo. He also finished eighth place in the two-man bobsled in 1956.

Colò was a pioneer in alpine skiing. The Italian won a gold medal in men's downhill in the 1952 Olympics.

Nieberl and Germany dominated in the bobsled in 1952. He won gold in both the men's two- and four-man bobsled races.

Lundström won two gold medals for Sweden in cross country skiing during the 1948 Winter Olympics. He also won a bronze medal four years later in Oslo.

Täpp won gold at age 30 in the men's 4x10 kilometres relay in cross country skiing in 1948. He was able to claim the bronze medal in the same event in 1952.

Abel scored six goals in the 1952 Winter Olympics for Team Canada in ice hockey. The Canadian team won gold, going 7-0-1 and outscoring opponents 71-14. His brother, Sid, is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Chappell was on the British gold medal ice hockey team in 1936. He scored one goal and two assists during the games. He returned to the Olympics in 1948, when Great Britain finished fifth.

Lecompte was a defenseman for Team Canada in the 1948 Winter Olympics. The Canadians went undefeated and won the gold medal.

Benham won two silver medals for Team USA in the 1952 Olympics at Oslo in the bobsled.

Henie was the first great female figure skater, winning consecutive gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936. She also finished in eighth place at age 11 in 1924. Henie helped popularize the sport.

Fiske won his first gold medal in bobsled at age 16 in 1928. He was able to win another gold in the four-man bobsled at the 1932 Olympics.

Shea won two gold medals in speed skating at the 1932 Winter Games. His grandson, Jim Shea Jr., won gold in the men's skeleton in 2002.

Schäfer won gold in men's singles figure skating in both the 1932 and 1936 Olympics. The Austrian also represented his country in swimming during the 1928 Summer Olympics.

Feierabend won five medals during his bobsled career for Switzerland. He was able to win two silver medals in 1936, one silver medal in 1948 and two bronze medals in 1952.

Wikström won two silver medals during his Olympic cross country skiing career for Sweden.

Jaffee was the pride of United States speed skating in 1932, winning two gold medals at Lake Placid.

Evensen was the first speed skating champion from Norway, winning gold, silver and bronze in the 1928 Olympics. He also won another silver medal at the 1932 Olympic Winter Games.

Ballangrud is one of the greatest speed skaters ever, winning seven Olympic medals. The Norwegian won four gold, two silver and one bronze medal during his career.

Scholz won a silver medal in mixed pairs figure skating during the 1928 Olympics for Austria.

Brunet won a bronze medal in mixed pairs figure skating in 1924, as well as gold medals in 1928 and 1932 with his future wife, Andrée. The pair were from France.

Brunet won a bronze medal in mixed pairs figure skating in 1924, as well as gold medals in 1928 and 1932 with her future husband, Pierre. The pair were from France.

Jewtraw was a U.S. speed skater and won the first gold medal in the first Winter Olympics in 1924.