By Paul Osborne

The US have named an 80-member squad for the upcoming Sochi Winter Paralympic Games ©Getty ImagesFebruary 21 - The United States will bring the largest delegation of any team competing at the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games as 80 athletes make the trip to Sochi next month.


"It is a very exciting time for the Paralympic Movement, and we are honoured to announce the largest team we have ever sent to a Paralympic Winter Games," said United States Olympic Committee chief executive Scott Blackmun.

"I am confident that this group of talented athletes is going to represent our country well both on and off the ice and snow.

"With the expanded platform of television coverage provided in partnership with NBC, these athletes are not only going to captivate the country, but also inspire the next generation of athletes following in their footsteps."

The squad sees the addition of 30 athletes to the team that finished sixth on the medal table at Vancouver 2010 with medal hopefuls competing in all five sports: biathlon, cross-country skiing, ice sledge hockey, wheelchair curling and alpine skiing, which includes the new snowboard cross.

Eight members of the gold-medal winning ice sledge hockey team from Vancouver 2010 will return to the team for 2014 ©Getty ImagesEight members of the gold-medal winning ice sledge hockey team from Vancouver 2010 will return to the team for 2014 ©Getty Images



The 2014 US delegation will feature 32 returning Paralympians with a combined haul of 50 medals.

Amongst those returning are seven-time Paralympian Allison Jones, five-time Paralympian Chris Devlin-Young, four four-time Paralympians, eight three-time Paralympians and 18 two-time Paralympians.

Alpine skiers Alana Nichols and Stephani Victors will head to Sochi hoping to defend the gold medals they won four years ago in Vancouver, as will the eight retuning members of the gold-medal winning ice sledge hockey team - Steve Cash, Taylor Chace, Nikko Landeros, Josh Pauls, Greg Shaw and Andy Yohe.

Tatyana McFadden will switch the track for the slopes as she makes her debut in the Winter Paralympics in Sochi next month ©Getty ImagesTatyana McFadden will switch the track for the slopes as she makes her debut in the Winter Paralympics in Sochi next month ©Getty Images



Three-time Paralympic gold medalist Tatyana McFadden, who is the most decorated Paralympian in the squad with 10 medals, heads a group of seven athletes who competed at the 2012 London Paralympic Games as she makes her debut at the Winter Games.

The youngest player on the team comes in the form of 15-year-old ice sledge hockey player Brody Robyal with Alpine skier Mark Bathum sitting at the other side of the scale at 54.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
February 2014: Congresswoman who lost both legs in Afghanistan chosen to head US delegation to Sochi 2014 Paralympics
January 2014: Track and field superstar Tatyana McFadden set for place on US team for Sochi 2014 Paralympics
October 2013: O'Neill appointed Team USA Chef De Mission for Sochi 2014