Every Illinois Olympian And When They’re Competing

By WBEZ Staff
From left, ice hockey player and Sochi silver medalist Kendall Coyne of Palos Heights, bobsledder and Sochi bronze medalist Aja Evans of Chicago, and ski jumper Michael Glasder of Cary who is competing in his first Olympics. (AP Photos by Nam Y. Huh, Rick Bowmer, and Matthias Schrader)
From left, ice hockey player and Sochi silver medalist Kendall Coyne of Palos Heights, bobsledder and Sochi bronze medalist Aja Evans of Chicago, and ski jumper Michael Glasder of Cary who is competing in his first Olympics. (AP Photos by Nam Y. Huh, Rick Bowmer, and Matthias Schrader)
From left, ice hockey player and Sochi silver medalist Kendall Coyne of Palos Heights, bobsledder and Sochi bronze medalist Aja Evans of Chicago, and ski jumper Michael Glasder of Cary who is competing in his first Olympics. (AP Photos by Nam Y. Huh, Rick Bowmer, and Matthias Schrader)
From left, ice hockey player and Sochi silver medalist Kendall Coyne of Palos Heights, bobsledder and Sochi bronze medalist Aja Evans of Chicago, and ski jumper Michael Glasder of Cary who is competing in his first Olympics. (AP Photos by Nam Y. Huh, Rick Bowmer, and Matthias Schrader)

Every Illinois Olympian And When They’re Competing

By WBEZ Staff
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Updated Feb. 9 at 1:30 p.m.

The 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, start Thursday, and a dozen athletes from Illinois will be competing.

Here is a quick guide to help you follow all the local athletes as they go for the gold.

All times listed indicate the approximate event start time, converted to Central Standard Time. TV broadcast schedules may change. Unless otherwise noted, information provided from TeamUSA.org and Pyeongchang2018.com.

From left, Nigerian boblsedders Akuoma Omeoga, Seun Adigun, and Ngozi Onwumere pose for a photo in this undated photo provided by Under Armor. The American-born former track athletes will field the first bobsled team from the entire continent of Africa in Pyeongchang. (Under Armour via AP)

Seun Adigun: Bobsled

Hometown: Chicago

Age: 31

Education: Adigun attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor and Evanston Township High School before running track at the University of Houston, according to NBC Chicago.

Olympic history: Pyeongchang is Adigun’s first Olympics. 

Fun fact: Adigun and her teammates are fielding the first bobsled team from an African nation in Olympic history.

When does she compete in South Korea?

  • Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 5:50 a.m. Central Time. 

Olympics schedule. TV schedule.

Kevin Bickner completes an attempt at the ski jump in Bischofshofen, Austria, on Jan. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Kevin Bickner: Ski jump

Hometown: Wauconda

Age: 21

Education: Bickner attended Wauconda High School and currently attends DeVry University.

Olympic history: Pyeongchang is Bickner’s first Olympics

Fun fact: Bickner and fellow Olympians Casey Larson and Michael Glasder all learned to ski jump at the Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove, according to the Chicago Tribune.

When does he compete in South Korea?

  • Thursday, Feb. 8 at 5:15 a.m. (Men’s Normal Hill Individual Qualification)    
    • Saturday, Feb. 10 at 6:35 a.m. (Men’s Normal Hill Individual 1st Round)    
  • Friday, Feb. 16 at 6:30 a.m. (Men’s Large Hill Individual Qualification)
    • Saturday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 a.m. (Men’s Large Hill Individual 1st Round)
  • Monday, Feb. 19 at 5:15 a.m. (Men’s Team Trial Round)
    • Monday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 a.m. (Men’s Team 1st Round)

Olympics schedule. TV schedule.

Sochi silver medalist Kendall Coyne throws out the first pitch before a White Sox baseball game in Chicago on May 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Kendall Coyne: Ice hockey

Hometown: Palos Heights

Age: 25

Education: Coyne attended high school and college in Massachusetts. 

Olympic history: Coyne and her teammates won silver at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Fun fact: Coyne is the all-time leading scorer in Team USA’s under-18 division.

When does she compete in South Korea?

  • Sunday, Feb. 11 at 1:40 a.m. Central Time (Women’s Group A Preliminary Round vs. Finland)
  • Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6:10 a.m. Central Time (Women’s Group A Preliminary Round vs. Olympic Athletes from Russia)
  • Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 9:10 p.m. Central Time (Women’s Group A Preliminary Round vs. Canada)

Olympics schedule. TV schedule. 

Shani Davis competes in the men's 1,500 meters during the U.S. Olympic long track speedskating trials on Jan. 6, 2018 in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Shani Davis: Long track speed skating

Hometown: Chicago

Age: 35

Education: Davis attended Marquette Senior High School in Michigan and Northern Michigan University.

Olympic history: Davis has won two gold medals and two silver medals over three Olympics.

Fun fact: Davis hails from Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, but began training at the Robert Crown Center in Evanston at age 6. 

When does he compete in South Korea?

  • Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 5:00 a.m. (Men’s 1,500 meter)
  • Monday, Feb. 19 at 5:53 a.m. (Men’s 500 meter)
  • Friday, Feb. 23 at 4:00 a.m. (Men’s 1,000 meter)

Olympics schedule. TV schedule.

Bobsledder Aja Evans poses for a portrait in September 2017 in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Aja Evans: Bobsled

Hometown: Chicago

Age: 29

Education: Evans attended Morgan Park High School in Chicago and later the University of Illinois. 

Olympic history: Evans won bronze at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in the two-woman bobsleigh with her partner, Jamie Greubel Poser.

Fun fact: Evans has a brother who played in the NFL, and an uncle and cousin who played in the MLB.

When does she compete in South Korea?

  • Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 5:50 a.m. Central Time. 

Olympics schedule. TV schedule. 

First-place finisher Lana Gehring waves to the crowd after competing in the women's 1,500-meter during the U.S.Olympic short track speedskating trials on Dec. 15, 2017 in Kearns, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Lana Gehring: Short track speed skating

Hometown: Glenview

Age: 27

Education: Gehring attended Glenbrook South High School in Glenview.

Olympic history: Gehring and her teammates won a bronze medal in the 3,000 meter relay at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Fun fact: After missing the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Gehring switched her focus to long track speed skating. She switched back to short track early in 2017 and has since set personal bests in both the 500 meter and 1,000 meter. 

When does she compete in South Korea?

  • Monday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 a.m. (Women’s 1,500 meter)
  • Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 4:00 a.m. (Women’s 1,000 meter)

Olympics schedule. TV schedule. 

Michael Glasder makes an attempt during the mixed normal hill ski jumping team competition at the 2017 Nordic Skiing World Championships in Finland on Feb. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Michael Glasder: Ski jump

Hometown: Cary

Age: 28

Education: Glasder attended Cary-Grove High School.

Olympic history: Pyeongchang is Glasder’s first Olympics

Fun fact: Glasder, Larson, and Bickner room together when they spend half the year training in Slovenia

When does he compete in South Korea?

  • Thursday, Feb. 8 at 5:15 a.m. (Men’s Normal Hill Individual Qualification)    
    • Saturday, Feb. 10 at 6:35 a.m. (Men’s Normal Hill Individual 1st Round)    
  • Friday, Feb. 16 at 6:30 a.m. (Men’s Large Hill Individual Qualification)
    • Saturday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 a.m. (Men’s Large Hill Individual 1st Round)
  • Monday, Feb. 19 at 5:15 a.m. (Men’s Team Trial Round)
    • Monday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 a.m. (Men’s Team 1st Round)

Olympics schedule. TV schedule. 

First place finisher Brian Hansen, center, celebrates during a medal ceremony following the men's mass start race during the U.S. Olympic long track speedskating trials on Jan. 7, 2018 in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Brian Hansen: Long track speed skating

Hometown: Glenview

Age: 27

Education: Hansen attended Glenbrook South High School in Glenview and and the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Olympic history: Hansen won a silver medal in men’s team pursuit at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He also competed, but did not medal, at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. 

Fun fact: His favorite movie is Cool Runnings.

When does he compete in South Korea?

  • Sunday, Feb. 11 at 1:00 a.m. (Men’s 5,000 meter)
  • Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 5:00 a.m. (Men’s 1,500 meter)
  • Sunday, Feb. 18 at 5:00 a.m. (Men’s Team Pursuit)
  • Saturday, Feb. 24 at 5:45 a.m. (Men’s Mass Start)

Olympics schedule. TV schedule. 

Casey Larson makes an attempt during the men's large hill ski jumping qualification at the 2017 Nordic Skiing World Championships in Finland on March 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Casey Larson: Ski jump

Hometown: Barrington

Age: 19

Education: Larson attended Barrington High School.

Olympic history: Pyeongchang is Larson’s first Olympics.

Fun fact: Larson first tried ski jumping at the Norge Ski Club at age 6.

When does he compete in South Korea?

  • Thursday, Feb. 8 at 5:15 a.m. (Men’s Normal Hill Individual Qualification)    
    • Saturday, Feb. 10 at 6:35 a.m. (Men’s Normal Hill Individual 1st Round)    
  • Friday, Feb. 16 at 6:30 a.m. (Men’s Large Hill Individual Qualification)
    • Saturday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 a.m. (Men’s Large Hill Individual 1st Round)
  • Monday, Feb. 19 at 5:15 a.m. (Men’s Team Trial Round)
    • Monday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 a.m. (Men’s Team 1st Round)

Olympics schedule. TV schedule.

Emery Lehman reacts after competing in the men's 5,000 meters during the U.S. Olympic long track speedskating trials on Jan. 2, 2018 in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Emery Lehman: Long track speed skating

Hometown: Oak Park

Age: 21

Education: Lehman attended Oak Park-River Forest High School and is currently a student at Marquette University in Milwaukee.

Olympic history: Lehman competed, but did not medal, at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Fun fact: Lehman said he likes the Blackhawks, Bears, Bulls, Cubs, and lasagna.

When does he compete in South Korea?

  • Sunday, Feb. 11 at 1:00 a.m. (Men’s 5,000 meter)
  • Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 5:00 a.m. (Men’s 1,500 meter)
  • Sunday, Feb. 18 at 5:00 a.m. (Men’s Team Pursuit)
  • Saturday, Feb. 24 at 5:45 a.m. (Men’s Mass Start)

Olympics schedule. TV schedule. 

Alexa Scimeca Knierim, left, and Christopher Knierim pose with their medals after winning the pairs event at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in California on Jan. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Alexa Scimeca Knierim: Pairs figure skating

Hometown: Addison

Age: 26

Education: Scimeca Knierim attended the College of DuPage.

Olympic history: Pyeongchang is Scimeca Knierim’s first Olympics.

Fun fact: Scimeca Knierim and Christopher Knierim are the only married couple on Team USA, according to TeamUSA.org.

When does she compete in South Korea?

  • Thursday, Feb. 8 at 8:45 p.m. Central Time (Team Event Pair Skating, Short Program) 
  • Saturday, Feb. 10 at 10:40 p.m. Central Time (Team Event Pair Skating, Free Skating)
  • Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time (Pair Skating, Short Program)
  • Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Central Time (Pair Skating, Free Skating) 

Olympics schedule. TV schedule. 

Bradie Tennell performs during the women's free skate event at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in California on Jan. 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Bradie Tennell: Singles figure skating

Hometown: Carpentersville

Age: 20

Education: Tennell attended McHenry County College in Crystal Lake.

Olympic history: Pyeongchang is Tennell’s first Olympics.

Fun fact: Tennell began ice skating at age 2.

When does she compete in South Korea?

  • Saturday, Feb. 10 at 8:45 p.m. Central Time (Team Event Ladies Single Skating, Short Program)
  • Sunday, Feb. 11 at 8:10 p.m. Central Time (Team Event Ladies Single Skating, Free Skating)
  • Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time (Ladies Single Skating, Short Program)
  • Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time (Ladies Single Skating, Free Skating)

Olympics schedule. TV schedule.