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Meet the Minnesotans competing at the 2022 Winter Games

From cross-country skiing to curling, here are the Minnesota athletes going for gold with Team USA in Beijing this February.

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BEIJING, China — Minnesota athletes are gearing up to compete at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing!

Learn more about Minnesota's Olympians competing for Team USA below, and get the latest updates as the countdown continues toward the opening ceremonies on our KARE 11 Olympics page.

Alpine Skiing

Paula Moltzan

Credit: AP
United States' Paula Moltzan competes during the first run of an alpine ski, World Cup women's slalom in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)

Biathlon

Jake Brown

Credit: AP
United States' Jake Brown competes during the men's 12.5 km pursuit competition at the World Championships Biathlon event in Pokljuka, Slovenia, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Leif Nordgren

Credit: AP
Leif Nordgren of the U.S. competes during the men's 10 km sprint competition at the biathlon World Cup in Ruhpolding, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Paul Schommer

Credit: AP
Paul Schommer of the United States competes during the men's 10 km sprint race at the Biathlon World Cup in Hochfilzen, Austria, Thursday, Dec.17, 2020. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Curling

John Landsteiner 

Credit: AP
Team Shuster's John Landsteiner throws the rock while competing against Team Dropkin at the U.S. Olympic Curling Team Trials at Baxter Arena in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)

Tabitha Peterson

Credit: AP
United States' Tabitha Peterson launches the stone during their women's curling match against Russian athletes at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Tara Peterson

Credit: AP
Team Peterson's Nina Roth, left, and Tara Peterson sweep to curl the rock down the sheet while competing against Team Sinclair at the U.S. Olympic Curling Team Trials at Baxter Arena in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)

Chris Plys

Credit: AP
Team Shuster's Chris Plys raises his arms in celebration as the final rock lands in the house to solidify Team Shuster's victory over Team Dropkin during the third night of finals at the U.S. Olympic Curling Team Trials at Baxter Arena in Omaha, Neb., Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. Team Shuster won the match and will represent Team USA at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)

John Shuster

Credit: AP
Team Shuster's John Shuster slides the stone while competing against Team Dropkin at the U.S. Olympic Curling Team Trials at Baxter Arena in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)

Aileen Geving (Alternate)

Credit: AP
United States' Aileen Geving warms up before their women's curling match against Sweden at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
  • Age: 34
  • Hometown: Duluth
  • School: University of Minnesota School - Duluth
  • Bio: NBC Olympics

Cross-Country Skiing

Jessie Diggins

Credit: AP
FILE - United States' Jessie Diggins competes during a women's Tour de Ski, cross-country ski sprint event, in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Jan. 9, 2021. Diggins and Rosie Brennan along with a revamped U.S. team head into the Beijing games with a list of podium finishes and hopes for earning more medals. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati, File)

Hockey (Women's)

Megan Bozek

Credit: AP
United States' Megan Bozek in action during the third period of a women's hockey game against the Canada, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, in Allentown, Pa. Canada won 3-1. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Hannah Brandt

Credit: AP
United States' Hannah Brandt handles the puck during the first period of a women's exhibition hockey game against Canada ahead of the Beijing Olympics Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Maryland Heights, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Dani Cameranesi

Credit: AP
United States' Dani Cameranesi plays against Switzerland during a preliminary round women's hockey game at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Amanda Kessel

Credit: AP
United States' Amanda Kessel plays against Canada during the first period of a rivalry series women's hockey game in Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Abbey Murphy

Credit: AP
United States' Abbey Murphy (37) handles the puck as Canada's Laura Stacey (7) defends during the first period of a women's exhibition hockey game ahead of the Beijing Olympics Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Maryland Heights, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kelly Pannek

Credit: AP
United States' Kelly Pannek in action during the first period of a women's exhibition hockey game against Canada ahead of the Beijing Olympics Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Maryland Heights, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Maddie Rooney

Credit: AP
Goalie Maddie Rooney (35), of the United States, blocks a shot by Natalie Spooner (24), of Canada, in the penalty shootout during the women's gold medal hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Lee Stecklein

Credit: AP
United States' Lee Stecklein (2) handles the puck as Canada's Rebecca Johnston (6) defends during the first period of a women's exhibition hockey game ahead of the Beijing Olympics Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Maryland Heights, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Grace Zumwinkle

Credit: AP
United States' Grace Zumwinkle skates in the second period of a women's hockey game in a pre-Olympic Games series Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Hockey (Men's)

Aaron Ness

Credit: AP
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Aaron Ness (42) skates against the St. Louis Blues during an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Dilip Vishwanat)
  • Age: 31
  • Hometown: Roseau
  • School: University of Minnesota
  • Social Media: Twitter

Ben Meyers

Credit: AP
Minnesota forward Ben Meyers (39) during an NCAA hockey game on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)
  • Age: 23
  • Hometown: Delano
  • School: University of Minnesota

Brock Faber

Credit: AP
Minnesota's Brock Faber (14) against Wisconsin during the second period of an NCAA hockey game on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

Drew Helleson

Credit: AP
Boston College's Drew Helleson during an NCAA hockey game against the Wisconsin on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 in Chestnut Hill, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Matthew Knies

  • Age: 19
  • Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
  • School: University of Minnesota
  • Social Media: Twitter
  • Bio: USA Hockey

Nathan Smith

Credit: AP
Minnesota State forward Nathan Smith celebrates after scoring a goal against Minnesota in the third period of an NCAA College Hockey Regional Final, Sunday, March 28, 2021, in Loveland, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
  • Age: 23
  • Hometown: Hudson, Florida
  • School: Minnesota State University-Mankato
  • Social Media: Twitter

Nick Perbix

Credit: AP
St. Cloud State's defenseman Nick Perbix skates against Northeastern during an NCAA hockey game on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019 in St, Cloud, Minn. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
  • Age: 23
  • Hometown: Elk River
  • School: St. Cloud State University
  • Social Media: Twitter | Instagram

Noah Cates

Credit: AP
Minnesota Duluth forward Noah Cates (21) during an NCAA hockey game on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)
  • Age: 22
  • Hometown: Stillwater
  • School: University of Minnesota-Duluth
  • Social Media: Twitter | Instagram

Sam Hentges

Credit: AP
St. Cloud State's Sam Hentges against St. Thomas in an NCAA hockey game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
  • Age: 22
  • Hometown: New Brighton
  • School: St. Cloud State University

Speed Skating

Giorgia Birkeland

Credit: US Speedskating
Giorgia Birkeland (Furnished by US Speedskating)
  • Age: 19
  • Hometown: White Bear Lake
  • School: Salt Lake Community College
  • Social Media: Instagram
  • Bio: Team USA

Note: This list will be updated as more athletes qualify for the 2022 Winter Games.

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2022 Winter Games

Watch more on the Winter Olympics in Beijing in our YouTube playlist:

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