Netherlands: Vancouver Outlook

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As usual, the Dutch speed skating team has no shortage of potential medal contenders. In the men's events, Sven Kramer has been supremely dominant since winning a silver medal in the 5000m and bronze in team pursuit as a 19-year-old in Torino. At the 2009 World Single Distance Championships, the son of two-time Olympian Yep Kramer won his third consecutive title in three events: the 5000m, 10,000m and team pursuit. Consider Kramer the favorite for gold in each event in Vancouver. On Day 2 of the Vancouver Olympics, Kramer won gold in the men's 5000m, setting a new Olympic Record time in the process. It was the first Olympic gold medal of Kramer's career.

Teammate Bob de Jong will be 33 in Vancouver and competing in his 4th Olympic Winter Games. He won a silver medal in Nagano in 1998 in the 10,000m and then claimed the gold in 2006. De Jong could contend for a medal in the 10,000m at his last Olympics. Countrymen Simon Kuipers and Erben Wennemars should also contend for medals in Vancouver. 

On the women's side of the long track, Netherlands is nearly as deep and dangerous. In 2006, Irene Wust won gold in the 3000m and bronze in the 1500m events. Wust, now 24, could again win multiple medals in Vancouver. 2002 and 2006 silver medalist Renate Groenewold is nearly just as dangerous in the 3000m, as she showed at 2009 Worlds, taking gold in the event. Paulien van Deutekom, Margot Boer and Annette Gerritsen could also contend for medals.

In snowboarding's parallel giant slalom, Nicolien Sauerbreij will be competing in her third Olympic Winter Games. Sauerbreij finished 12th in Torino, but took sixth place at the 2009 World Championships and is an outside contender for a medal in Vancouver.