Sidney Crosby, Ice Hockey (CAN)

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The first overall pick of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins is expected to be at the core of the Canadian men's hockey team which will be looking to redeem themselves in Vancouver following their disastrous showing in Torino.

Crosby, nicknamed the "Next One" and often compared to hockey great Wayne Gretzky, will be making his Olympic debut for Canada in 2010 but he is not short on international experience. As a 16 year old, he became the youngest player ever to score a goal at the World Junior Hockey Championship in 2004 and he helped Canada win a gold medal at the tournament in 2005. At the 2006 World Hockey Championships, he became the youngest player ever to win the scoring title.

Cindy Klassen, Speed Skating (CAN)

Klassen became the first Canadian to captured five medals at a single Olympic games, winning one gold, two silver and two bronze at the 2006 Winter Games in Torino. She was dubbed the "Woman of the Games" by IOC president Jacques Rogge and coupled with her bronze medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, she is now the most decorated athlete in Canadian Olympic history. 

Following her Olympic achievements, Klassen decided to take a break and skipped most of the fall races in the 2007 World Cup season. Her 2008 campaign was interrupted by knee problems and in February her sister was involved in a near-fatal car accident. Klassen is currently recovering from arthroscopic surgery on both her knees to clean up some tendon scar tissue but expects to be back in top form in time for the 2010 Games in Vancouver. 

Mao Asada, Figure Skating (JPN)

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Asada captured the 2008 World Figure Skating champion and is currently ranked as the top female figure skater in the world. In 2007, she captured a pair of ISU Grand Prix events - Skate Canada International and Trophee Eric Bompard - before finishing  second at the ISU Grand Prix final in Torino.

The two-time Japanese champion is one of few women who has landed the triple Axel in competition. She did not meet the minimum age requirements to compete in Torino so Vancouver 2010 will mark her Olympic debut. Asada had been training with Canadian and Men's World champion Jeffrey Buttle but since January 2008, she has been training on her own.

Ted Ligety, Alpine Skiing (USA)

Ligety is the defending gold medalist in the Men's Combined event and in 2008 he captured the 2008 World Cup Giant Slalom title thanks to a pair of victories in Bormio and Slovenia.

Ligety's 12 career podium finishes have all come in the technical disciplines. If he can improve his performance in the downhill and super-G events, he may be able to join fellow American Bode Miller in challenging for the overall alpine title. Ligety is expected to be a major factor in Slalom, Giant Slalom and Combined in Vancouver.

Benjamin Raich, Alpine Skiing (AUT)

Raich is a two-time defending Olympic gold medalist in the Giant Slalom and Slalom events. After winning the overall world title in 2006, the Austrian has finished runner-up in each of the last two seasons to rivals Aksel Lund Svindal and American Bode Miller.

At the World Championships in 2007, Raich picked up a silver in the Super Combined event. In 2005, he came home with four medals. Vancouver will mark his third Winter Olympics.

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Shaun White, Snowboarding (USA)

White is a multi-talented two-sport star, becoming the first athlete ever to compete at both the Summer and Winter X Games in skateboarding and snowboarding respectively.

Easily recognizable because of his large mop of red hair, "The Flying Tomato" as he is affectionately known, is immensely popular in both the skateboarding and snowboarding communities, and should be another strong contender in Vancouver.