These seven veteran Olympians can’t wait to wave the stars and stripes triumphantly in Vancouver. Here they inject some of that excitement into their wardrobe, showing off the season’s Technicolor options.

Text By John Bradley
Photographs By Michael Dwornik
Fashion By Patti O’Brien

-
-
-

Daron Rahlves, Ski Cross

Jeret Peterson, Aerials Skiing

Ted Ligety, Alpine Skiing

Downhill god Rahlves doesn’t understand the word retire. After leaving alpine racing in 2006, he took up ski cross (think roller derby on snow). Now that the sport has been added to the Olympics, the 36-year-old will be battling guys a decade younger. “I think I still have what it takes,” he says. Also working on a comeback: two-time Olympic aerialist Peterson, 28, who sat out 2008 on a self-imposed sabbatical and now ranks third in the world. (Read more about his return here.) Yet for all the experience of Rahlves and Peterson, Ligety, 25, may be the most relaxed heading into Vancouver. “I approach it with a calculated nonchalance,” says America’s top-ranked downhill racer. “There are so many different factors that the best guy doesn’t always win.” Of course, he could just be defusing expectations: He was the only American male skier to win neckwear in the Turin games in 2006 — a gold in the combined.

Rahlves, left, wears a coat by Salvatore Ferragamo, $2,140; windbreaker by Nike, $195; sweater by Gap, $148; jeans by Joe’s Jeans, $169; scarf by Meg Cohen, $185. Peterson, center, wears a coat by DKNY, $495; cardigan by Lacoste, $425; pants by Perry Ellis, $80; scarf by DKNY, $75; sneakers by Nike, $109. Ligety wears a coat by Ralph Lauren Black Label, $2,595; vest by RLX Ralph Lauren, $495; shirt, $295, and pants, $395, both by Ralph Lauren Black Label; scarf by Polo by Ralph Lauren, $95; boots by Ralph Lauren, $159.

Andy Newell, Cross-country Skiing

Cross-country skiing was a Eurocentric sport…until Newell came along. Since he took third at a 2006 World Cup event — the first U.S. skier to place in 23 years — he’s been a podium fixture. He credits the training. “We looked at cyclists and swimmers; tried different intervals and innovative stuff in the weight room,” says Newell, 26. His coaches don’t like his other snow pursuit: riding the halfpipe on nordic skis. “Yeah, I could hurt myself. But there’s no point in trying to stop me.”

Newell wears a coat, $2,690, and scarf, $235, both by Etro; denim jacket by Gap, $88; pants by Brooks Brothers, $248; socks by Gold Toe, $8; sneakers by New Balance, $110.

Trevor Marsicano & Tucker Fredricks, Speed Skating

Marsicano, 20, medaled in four events at the 2009 World Championships, and plans to do the same in Vancouver. Impressive, since five years ago a fellow racer’s skate cut his right thigh to the bone, leaving him with balance issues. His teammate Fredricks (right) had his own hurdle to overcome: laziness. “I hated training, so I put in the bare minimum,” says the 25-year-old of his 25th-place finish in the 500-meter at Turin. He’s since recommitted himself to the sport, training hard and eating well. “No more Dr Pepper for breakfast.”

Marsicano wears a jacket by Boss Orange, $395; hooded sweater by Gap, $168; pants by Giorgio Armani, $650; boots by Sebago, $140; all scarves by Meg Cohen, $185 each. Fredricks wears a vest by Nike, $160; suit by Calvin Klein, $500; windbreaker by Nike, $195; shirt by Ralph Lauren Black Label, $295; tie by J. Crew, $50; socks by Gold Toe, $8; shoes by Florsheim by Duckie Brown, $295; hat by Meg Cohen, $100.

Brian Martin, Doubles Luge

Early races on the Vancouver luge track have seen speeds near 100 mph — almost 20 mph above average. “You have to be spot on, or there will be consequences,” says Martin, 35. He knows of such things. He and teammate Mark Grimmette were favorites in Turin after a bronze in ’98 and silver in ’02, but a crash on their first run ruined their shot at medaling in a third straight Winter Olympics. “Gold in Vancouver is huge. I want to be back on top.”

Martin wears a coat by Prada, $1,350; jacket by Nike, $200; plaid shirt by Steven Alan, $225; polo by Calvin Klein, $68; corduroy pants by Ermenegildo Zegna, $295; socks by Gold Toe, $8; shoes by Sperry for J. Crew, $125; scarf by Burberry, $295.

—-

This article originally appeared in the February 2010 issue of Men’s Journal.