Peak performers

Cross-country skiing preview

The powerhouses of Norway, Russia, Sweden and Finland remain the top picks as far as the medals are concerned in cross-country skiing, however stars from other countries will also be hoping to muscle their way onto the podium.

After Jessie Diggins and her teammates claimed the United States' first Olympic gold medal in cross-country skiing in 2018, she secured top spot in the overall women's World Cup standings in 2021. Rosie Brennan, who along with Diggins represents the US team, finished fourth.

"All I can do is feel confident in the work that I've put in and feel confident in knowing that I know how to push hard," Diggins said after finishing the Tour de Ski event in Europe.

"So for me going into the next Olympics, and every race between now and then, I do know that when I cross the finish line, I'll have given everything I have."

France's Richard Jouve and Italy's Federico Pellegrino are also worth watching in sprint races.

Although the traditional Olympic medal-winning countries such as Norway and Sweden have seen some personnel changes, due in part to a number of retirements, they remain the countries to beat at Beijing 2022.

Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo dominated the World Cup this season, clinching most of the top spots just like in previous years. Klaebo won three gold medals at the 2018 Winter Olympics in his debut Olympic appearance and will be back to defend his titles.

He became the most successful male sprinter in World Cup history in terms of individual race victories, and set a new record for the most overall sprint titles during the 2019-20 World Cup season. His consistency through the years has made the 25-year-old a must-watch skier.

Also from Norway, Therese Johaug will begin her third Olympic journey having won four gold medals at the 2021 world championships. She has won three Olympic medals, one of each color, in 2010 and 2014.

Norway's Marit Bjoergen, who won five medals in Pyeongchang and a total of 15 throughout her career, more than any other Winter Olympian, retired after the 2018 Games. Her former teammate, Johaug, has won three Olympic medals and looks set to add to that tally. Heidi Weng, also from Norway, will surely be in the mix too.

The Russian Olympic Committee team runs deep with talent. Seven of their skiers sat in the top 15 in the World Cup standings in early January. Alexander Bolshunov, who brought home two silver medals and a bronze from the 2018 Games, was right behind Klaebo in the overall World Cup standings this season and will no doubt strive for gold in China.

Natalia Nepryaeva is also showing strong form after taking the gold in the six-stage FIS Tour de Ski, which started in Switzerland, moved to Germany, and concluded with a climb up an Alpine ski slope in Italy. She was the first Russian female skier to win the title.