China has dominated the medal count at the last five Paralympic Games. That's in stark contrast with the low level of disability access in Chinese society.
"Athletes post-Olympics or post-retirement need a lot of support, a lot of people reminding them of their worth beyond just their athletic achievements and results," says therapist Holly Brooks.
Women are approaching gender parity at the Winter Games. They've also dominated news coverage because of powerhouse stars like Eileen Gu and because of tragic cases like Kamila Valieva.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach resisted implementing any immediate changes despite speaking of concerns for minor athletes like Valieva.
As the fate of 15-year-old Russian skating phenom Kamila Valieva is debated by lawyers, the athletes and coaches in Beijing say this year's Winter Olympics are now tainted by the specter of doping.
Ryan Cochran-Siegle's Vermont family has sent six athletes to the Winter Olympics. His mom, Barbara Cochran, won gold in Sapporo, Japan, as an alpine ski racer in 1972.
Twelve years after Nodar Kumaritashvili died in a luge crash at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, his cousin Saba is racing in Beijing. "I wasn't afraid. I wanted to be in the Olympics to race."
Michigan photographer Nic Antaya started a documenting Ishpeming Ski Club to understand how it has birthed a handful of Olympic athletes and its culture.
More than 220 athletes will represent the United States at the Olympics in Beijing, making it the largest delegation at the Games. Other large teams include China and the Russian Olympic Committee.
The U.S. Biathlon team has never won an Olympic medal — the only U.S. athletes not to do so. New innovations may lead to a medal finish in the combined cross-country skiing and target shooting event.
As the Winter Olympics begin Friday, China is welcoming the world at a time when Beijing's aggressive foreign policy is creating friction with several other parts of the globe.
