Meet our 9 Team Citi Athletes: Hear Their Stories and Learn About Their Passions

January 13, 2014 02:42 PM

As the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games approach, Citi is excited to reintroduce the Citi Every Step of the Way program to rally support for the meaningful programs that are molding the next generation of athletes.

At the center of the program are the nine U.S. Olympians, Paralympians, hopefuls and Olympic legends who make up Team Citi - Alana Nichols, Billy Demong, Dan Jansen, Erin Hamlin, Evan Lysacek, Julie Chu, Picabo Street, Rico Roman and Ted Ligety. Each athlete has chosen a U.S. Olympic, Paralympic or community sport program that will benefit from Citi's $500,000 donation to the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Learn more about their paths from ambition to achievement and how they are supporting the organizations as we profile each athlete over the coming weeks.

Alana Nichols
A Paralympic alpine skier and wheelchair basketball player, Alana was paralyzed in a snowboarding accident at the age of 17. Alana has chosen the Team USA Paralympic Champions Fund to make Paralympic sport more accessible.

Billy Demong
Billy, a Nordic combined skier and Olympic gold and silver medalist, is passionate about being a role model. He is promoting the Olympic values of respect, excellence and friendship to future Olympians with Team for Tomorrow.

Dan Jansen
Retired gold medalist speed skater and commentator, Dan lost his sister on the day of his 500-meter speed skating competition at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary. Knowing that being an Olympian comes with its own set of challenges, he is supporting the Olympians for Olympians Relief Fund to give athletes monetary assistance during times of crisis.

Erin Hamlin
American luge athlete and a two-time U.S. Olympian, Erin fell in love with luge at the age of 13. To expand USA Luge's national recruitment, Erin is supporting the USA Luge Slider Search, the very program that introduced her to the sport of luge, to help expand the sport of luge across the U.S. and open opportunities to kids from all backgrounds to get involved.

Evan Lysacek
Evan is an Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater who devotes time to supporting Figure Skating in Harlem. This program that uses academics and figure skating to empower girls in some of New York City's most underserved areas.

Julie Chu
As a child, Julie, a three-time U.S. Olympic medalist, started with figure skating but quickly fell in love with the game of hockey . She is hoping to help more kids experience the excitement of playing hockey by supporting the USA Hockey Foundation's Try Hockey for Free Days.

Picabo Street
Like many athletes, Picabo, an alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist, is no stranger to injuries. She is supporting efforts to help prevent and treat skiing and snowboarding injuries through the Team USA Stay on the Slopes Initiative.

Rico Roman
U.S. National Sled Hockey team member and Paralympic Hopeful Rico Roman was introduced to the sport after losing his leg in a roadside bomb in Iraq. Join Team Rico and Operation Comfort in providing enjoyment and giving back to our country's veterans.

Ted Ligety
An alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist, Ted is enthusiastic about spreading his passion for the sport. He has chosen Youth Enrichment Services' Operation SnowSports program to create opportunities for urban youth to get outdoors and learn how to ski and snowboard.

Which team will you support? Find out more on the Every Step of the Way site.