On your mark, get set…

The Winter Olympics begin next week. We promise you’re not the only one spinning like a figure skater with this news, since we just had the postponed Summer games last year.

After the torch is lit + you watch the opening ceremony on Fri., Feb. 4, the competitions will last for 16 days. During that time, approximately 3,000 athletes will compete across 100+ events to see who is the best in the world. While you won’t see any Boston Bruins players in the games, we did some training to figure out who has ties to Boston.

As you are gearing up to cheer on Team USA, we know how to score the same winter gear they are wearing in Beijing. Boston-based company Sh*t That I Knit made the official Team USA collection, which includes hats + gloves that you can find here.

Team USA gear from Sh*t That I Knit | Photo via @pinapple.tahoe

Before the buzzer sounds, here’s a highlight of the eight connections to our city. A handful of players on the US women's hockey team attended college here, in addition to figure skaters, a speedskater, and a luge competitor.

Alex Carpenter | Ice Hockey | Hometown: North Reading, MA

This two-time Olympic forward played for Boston College + graduated in 2016. She has one silver medal from the Sochi games in 2014.

Cayla Barnes | Ice Hockey | Hometown: Eastvale, CA

This gold medalist and two-time Olympian attended + played hockey for Boston College. She will graduate this year.

Gracie Gold | Figure Skating | Hometown: Newton, MA

This Olympian holds a bronze medal from the 2014 Olympics + has a twin sister who is also a competitive figure skater. Update: Gracie won't be competing in the 2022 games.

Hayley Scamurra | Ice Hockey | Hometown: Getzville, NY

This Northeastern University grad will be making her Olympic debut in this year’s games.

Jesse Compher | Ice Hockey | Hometown: Northbrook, IL

Jesse attended Boston University and will make her Olympic debut in this year’s games.

Julie Letai | Speedskating | Hometown: Medfield, MA

Julie will skate into Beijing with a bronze medal from the 2021 World Championship in 3000m.

Kendall Coyne | Ice Hockey | Hometown: Palos Heights, IL

This three-time Olympian has one gold and one silver medal to her name. She graduated from Northeastern University in 2016.

Marissa Castelli | Figure Skating | Trains in Brighton, MA

Marissa will skate in the pairs competition in this year’s games and was on the 2014 Winter Olympics team. She attended Community College of Rhode Island.

Megan Keller | Ice Hockey | Hometown: Farmington, MI

Megan will be competing in her third Olympic games and already has a gold medal from the 2018 games. She graduated from Boston College in 2019.

Zachary DiGregorio | Luge | Hometown: Medway, MA

Zachary will slide into the Olympics with plenty of accolades, including the gold medal in the 2019 Norton Junior Seeding Race, the silver medal in the 2019 Germany Junior World Cup singles race, and placed in multiple global competitions.

Honorable mention goes to another athlete with ties to Boston.

Devin Levi | Ice Hockey | Hometown: Quebec, Canada

This goalie played hockey for Northeastern University + will be representing Team Canada.

Check out the schedule + plan your Olympic events watch party in advance. And, don’t forget the Paralympic Games from Fri., Mar. 4-Sun., Mar. 13.

ProTip: If you don’t have cable + are looking for ways to stream your favorite events, here’s how.