Facing the challenge
The Sochi Winter Olympics are just over a month away, and top competitors around the world are preparing for the big event.
Photographer Lucas Jackson took a series of athletes' portraits at a Team USA media summit in Utah in 2013. For some shots he asked his subjects to imagine they were just about to compete and then captured the looks on their faces.
Eighteen-year-old figure skater Gracie Gold stands for a portrait.
Skeleton racer Noelle Pikus-Pace, who took fourth place in the 2010 Winter Olympics, poses for the camera.
Pikus-Pace adjusts her headgear as she demonstrates the preparations she goes through before a run.
Twenty-eight-year-old skeleton racer John Daly, who competed in the 2010 Winter Olympics, poses for a photograph.
Paralympic alpine skier Heath Calhoun – a U.S. Army veteran who lost both his legs after he was injured by a rocket-propelled grenade in Iraq – has his picture taken.
Twenty-five-year-old alpine skier Laurenne Ross poses for a portrait.
Alpine skier Steve Nyman, who competed in both the 2006 and 2010 Winter Games, mimics his pre-run preparations.
Nyman poses in his gear in the studio.
Speed skater Brian Hansen, who took a silver medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics, poses for a portrait.
Speed skater Patrick Meek poses for a picture.
Snowboarder Evan Strong of Maui, Hawaii, holds out his gloved hands as he poses for a photograph.
Ice hockey player David Backes mimics his preparations before a game.
Hockey player Monique Lamoureux demonstrates her pre-game preparations.
Hockey player Jessie Vetter poses for a portrait.
Sled hockey player Rico Roman poses for the camera.
Bobsledder Curt Tomasevicz, who was part of the four-man team that took a Gold medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics, poses for a portrait.
Bobsledder Aja Evans mimics her preparations before a competition.
Bobsledder Jazmine Fenlator poses for a portrait.
Bobsledder Justin Olsen takes off the gold medal that he won in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics as he has his portrait taken.
