The Storylines That Will Make You Smile, Laugh, or Cry During the Olympics

The Winter Olympics are almost here, and you know what that means: human interest stories! In less than a month, unknown athletes will soon become household names as they put everything on the line for a gold medal and capture the attention of sports-lovers and haters alike. It feels like time flew by as fast as a speed skater since the amazing London Summer Games in 2012. So we're bringing you up to date with everything you need to know about the Sochi Games in Russia. There's a teenage phenom, a new team competition to fill your gymnastic void, and even potential for a diplomatic crisis. Here are some of the storylines that will give you a reason to tune in when the Opening Ceremony kicks things off on Feb. 7.

Figure Skating Becomes More Like Gymnastics
Getty | Harry How

Figure Skating Becomes More Like Gymnastics

Gymnastics and figure skating are two Olympic fan favorites, and this year the Winter Games are taking a cue from the Summer Games. For the first time, there will be a team competition, pitting country against country for what promises to be a dramatic battle.

Each nation's team consists of six figure skaters. One male skater, one female skater, one pair team, and one ice dance team will be chosen to participate in the team event — we're sure appropriately named skater Gracie Gold, pictured above, hopes to make Team USA. After skaters compete in the women's, men’s, pairs, and ice dance programs, totals scores from each will be added together for the national team score, and a winner will be crowned.

Lindsey Vonn's Dreams Are Dashed
Getty | Doug Pensinger

Lindsey Vonn's Dreams Are Dashed

Goodbye, Olympic dreams. Lindsey Vonn worked hard to make it to the Olympics after undergoing knee surgery last February. But thanks to an MCL sprain during a downhill race in France in December, she had to officially pull out of the Games. It's a sad ending for the gold medalist (and current girlfriend of Tiger Woods).

The Miracle on Ice Rematch Is Happening
Getty | John Kelly

The Miracle on Ice Rematch Is Happening

In 1980, Team USA, made up of a bunch of college amateurs, beat the USSR on Lake Placid in New York. The Soviet team was an ice hockey juggernaut, which had won every world championship and Olympic gold since 1954. In Sochi, the US will face off against home country Russia again on the second Saturday of the Olympics at 7:30 a.m. EST, so set your DVRs! This time, Russia will be the underdog — with local support on its side. In 2002, Team USA beat out the Russians in the semifinals to take the silver, while Russia went home with the bronze. In 2006 and 2010, Russia didn't medal.

Lolo Jones Trades Track For Bobsledding
Getty | Harry How

Lolo Jones Trades Track For Bobsledding

Track and field star Lolo Jones made headlines during the London Games for speaking freely about her decision to remain a virgin. Are you prepared to hear more about her sex life? While the hurdler did not win a medal during the 2012 Summer Olympics, she's giving Sochi a shot. Lolo has taken up bobsledding and is the running to make the team.

The US Could Win Ice Dancing Gold
Getty | TORU YAMANAKA

The US Could Win Ice Dancing Gold

While the new figure skating team competition is exciting, there's not much hope of Team USA bringing home gold on the ice. However, one bright spot is American ice dancing duo Meryl Davis and Charlie White. Celebrity choreographer Derek Hough has worked with the pair, who are five-time national champions and winners of the 2010 silver medal. They're hoping to best that this year.

Russia's Antigay Laws Create Controversy
Getty | ALEXANDER NEMENOV

Russia's Antigay Laws Create Controversy

Athletes and fans alike are wondering how to handle the Games after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a draconian bill into law last June. Called an antigay propaganda law, it basically means you can go to jail for saying it's OK to be gay or be raised by gay parents. Understandably, many are concerned about how this might impact gay fans, reporters, or Olympians traveling to the country. And activists have called for a boycott of the Games and Russian products — like vodka.

Back in October, Putin assured everyone that gay people will be welcome at the Winter Olympics, but his statement didn't fully address the issue. Following months of protests and worldwide criticism over the law, Putin said, "We are doing everything, both the organizers and our athletes and fans, so that participants and guests feel comfortable in Sochi, regardless of nationality, race, or sexual orientation." We can expect reporting on the tolerance climate and any fallout from the law during the Games.

The US Delegation Sends a Message
Disney

The US Delegation Sends a Message

Despite Putin's assurances, the US is taking the 2014 Games as a chance to make a statement about human rights. Like the presidents of France and Germany, President Barack Obama has decided to skip the Games, and instead the US is sending three openly gay athletes to head up the delegation: tennis star Billie Jean King, who came out in the '80s as one of first openly gay professional athletes; Olympic gold-medal figure skater Brian Boitano, who just came out following his appointment; and Olympic hockey medalist Caitlin Cahow. A White House spokesman explained: “The US Delegation to the Olympic Games represents the diversity that is the United States."

20 Years Have Passed Since Tonya Took Out Nancy
Getty

20 Years Have Passed Since Tonya Took Out Nancy

In the early '90s, Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan were two household names in the world of figure skating, but in 1994, a man hit Kerrigan's leg with a metal pole just before the US Figure Skating Championships. With suspicion and investigations brewing, Harding eventually opened up to say that she, her ex-husband, and her bodyguard had plotted the attack and hired a man to break Kerrigan's leg. Following her admission, Harding was at first banned from figure skating, but after she threatened to sue, she was accepted back into the sport. At the Olympics, it felt like some sort of karmic ending when a postrecovery Kerrigan won the silver medal and Harding placed eighth. Expect some look-backs — especially since Nancy Kerrigan is serving as an NBC analyst.

Mikaela Shiffrin Is the Missy Franklin of the Winter Games
Getty | SAMUEL KUBANI

Mikaela Shiffrin Is the Missy Franklin of the Winter Games

American skier Mikaela Shiffrin, 18, is poised to be the Missy Franklin of these Olympics. You may recall then 17-year-old Missy dominated women's swimming at the 2012 Games. This time around, Mikaela will likely impress us all. Born in Vail, CO, Mikaela began skiing in her parent's driveway. She won her first major race at the age of 15, and she's won four World Cup gold medals for slalom.

Shaun White Goes For a Three-peat
Getty | Doug Pensinger

Shaun White Goes For a Three-peat

In Sochi, snowboarder Shuan White will try for his third straight men's half-pipe gold medal. While the 27-year-old is battling an ankle injury, he could still become the first US man to win three straight Winter golds in the same event.

Johnny Weir Comes Back as a Commentator
Getty | YURI KADOBNOV

Johnny Weir Comes Back as a Commentator

The fabulously flamboyant Johnny Weir, a three-time US champion and two-time Olympian, will be offering figure skating commentary for NBC this year. While he seems like a perfect fit, there has been some controversy surrounding his appointment. As an openly gay man and Russophile, Johnny has taken criticism for not doing more to protest the country's draconian antigay laws.

After he called protestors dumping vodka in the streets "idiots," Johnny made this apology late last year:

"I realized that there is no excuse to hurl insults at those who oppose you, or those who think differently than you and as a believer in free will and free speech, I allowed my own fear and emotion to get the better of me and for a moment I became a hypocrite.

"I have been defending athlete's rights to compete in Sochi, despite Russia's anti-LGBT laws, and have publicly opposed a boycott. This is an issue that is very heated for many LGBT activists who want to protect and save the Russian LGBT community, and I wholeheartedly applaud their bravery. I may not agree with all their tactics nor do I have the sense of responsibility that they have, but any selfless act is worth applause.

"Despite many activists' bravery, they also have a very pointed way of trying to make everyone around them an activist and to stand for a cause. My stance of being pro-athlete before being pro-gay has ruffled so many feathers and it becomes difficult to speak publicly because of this fight."

"The King" Tries to Make History
Getty | ODD ANDERSEN

"The King" Tries to Make History

Here's a little international trivia for you. Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen — known as "The King" — only needs two gold medals to tie the record for most career golds, and only two medals at all to take the record for most Winter medals.

There Could Be Another Jamaican Bobsled Team
Disney

There Could Be Another Jamaican Bobsled Team

Who's ready for a Cool Runnings sequel? Twenty-six years ago, the unexpected team went for gold at the Calgary Games, and the athletes from the tropical nation could try it again in Russia as they are back in the running.