The weight of expectation has not exactly been a strong point for American Alpine skiers in the Olympics. That is why U.S. sensation Lindsey Vonn, who has dominated the World Cup circuit the past two years, wants to get that first medal out of the way. Then, just maybe, she can give the U.S. the kind of dominating performance that no one has come close to achieving. Not Picabo Street, though she did win gold at the 1998 Nagano Games. And certainly not Bode Miller -- a bust in the 2006 Turin Games.

Vonn, shown right, will be a favorite in three of the five Alpine events in Vancouver -- downhill, super-G and super combined. But her chief rival and good friend, Germany's Maria Riesch, may be the world's best all-around female skier. Another American, Julia Mancuso, is back to defend her gold in the women's giant slalom, though she's had her struggles on the World Cup circuit.

On the men's side, Miller, who has been trying to mend an injury the past few weeks, is back for another try at matching expectation, competing in all five events in Vancouver. But teammate Ted Ligety, the defending gold medalist in the combined, might be the more likely podium contender, particularly in the giant slalom.

Like the women's field, the men's competition has its favorite. Austria's Benjamin Raich, the World Cup points leader, is a podium threat in Super-G and the combined, but he'll have competition from a pair of Swiss: Didier Cuche and Carlo Janka, who are ranked 1-2 in the World Cup downhill.