MARIT BJOERGEN (CROSS-COUNTRY)

The 37-year-old Norwegian has returned from maternity leave with the goal of becoming the greatest female Winter Olympian in history. Bjoergen has already won a record-equalling 10 Olympic medals and one more in Pyeongchang will put her out on her own.

ELISE CHRISTIE (SHORT-TRACK)

Christie’s catalogue of calamities in Sochi has done nothing to dampen her desire to claim an elusive first Olympic medal in Pyeongchang. In fact, after a dominant World Championships last year, Christie will start favourite in all three women’s individual events.

YUZURU HANYU (FIGURE SKATING)

Yuzuru Hanyu will defend his title (EMPICS)

The brilliant but inconsistent Hanyu heads into the Games as the reigning champion and undoubted man to watch. But he will head to Pyeongchang off the back of a serious foot injury and his rivalry with teenage American Nathan Chen will be thrilling to watch.

MARTIN FOURCADE (BIATHLON)

Following in the wake of Norwegian superstar Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, Frenchman Fourcade has made the sport his own. Once again utterly dominant on the World Cup circuit this season, Fourcade is almost certain to add to his career haul of four Olympic medals.

KAILLIE HUMPHRIES (BOBSLEIGH)

Canada’s Kaillie Humphries has proved almost untouchable (David Davies/PA)

Canada’s double defending Olympic champion has proved so dominant in her sport she has even sought to spice things up by racing in the men’s World Cup. She will only have eyes on a third consecutive women’s prize in Pyeongchang.

SANDRA NAESLUND (SKI-CROSS)

It is hard to tear your eyes from any of the top stars in ski-cross as they career towards the finish line with almost inevitable thrills and spills. Swedish 20-year-old Naeslund triumphed in the overall World Cup this season and will start as favourite.

MIKAELA SHIFFRIN (ALPINE)

Skier Mikaela Shiffrin will look to sweep the board (EMPICS)

Shiffrin is coming off the back of another dominant World Cup season in slalom, in which she will defend the Olympic title she won in Sochi. The 22-year-old American could emerge with multiple medals as she also competes in giant slalom, Super-G and combined.

KAMIL STOCH (SKI-JUMPING)

The Polish superstar is favourite to repeat his double gold medal success from Sochi. He heads to Pyeongchang having become only the second ski-jumper in history to achieve the grand slam of winning all four events in the prestigious Four Hills Tournament earlier this season.

SHAUN WHITE (SNOWBOARDING)

Opinions seem to be split on the 31-year-old half-pipe superstar, who returns in search of a third gold medal after a surprise failure in Sochi. White hit a perfect 100 score at the US Trials in January – but faces a significant threat from rivals nearly half his age.

SUNGBIN YUN (SKELETON)

The fast-rising South Korean skeleton star – backed by British coach Richard Bromley – is set to emerge as one of host nation’s heroes. Sungbin proved utterly dominant on the World Cup circuit, winning five of the eight races, and is poised to repeat the feat in Pyeongchang.