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The thrill of watching incredible athletes perform impossible-looking maneuvers from your couch, the reported $51 billion price tag, the pure Russian-ness of it all: the 2014 Sochi Olympics kicks off February 7 and we're excited. But before you block off hours for crucial figure skating and luge relay viewing, take a gander at how many attractively inclined male athletes are competing this year. After the jump, find the top 20 hottest male competitors—swift-on-their-feet, easy-on-the-eyes dudes that'll make curling and bobsled just a touch more thrilling.
Henrik Lundqvist
Image via Getty Images
Image via Getty Images
Age: 31
Team: Sweden
Sport: Hockey
Why watch him: Lundqvist, the goalie for the New York Rangers, could easily star in a James Bond film. He's scored top spots on GQ and Vanity Fair's best dressed lists and is often sighted at fashion shows—that is, when he's not busy on the ice. He has previously modeled for Head & Shoulders.
Tim Burke
Photo via Tim Burke site.
Image via Team USA
Age: 32
Team: USA
Sport: Biathlon
Why watch him: Burke is a two-time Olympian, competing previously in 2006 and 2010. He is ranked as one of the top biathletes in the world and hopes to break barriers by becoming the first American to win an Olympic medal in biathlon.
Chas Guldemond
Image via Team USA
Image via Team USA
Age: 27
Team: USA
Sport: Snowboarding
Why watch him: With previous sponsors like Under Armor and Energy Drink, Guldemond became the TTY World Champion last winter after winning several US opens. He's also a four-time Slopestyle Grand Prix champion and X Games gold medalist.
John Daly
Image via Team USA
Image via Team USA
Age: 28
Team: USA
Sport: Skeleton Race
Why watch him: Daly was a BMX racer in his teens and a college track star. He finished in fourth place at the 2013 World Cup race, which is a long way from coming in 17th place back in 2010 at the Vancouver games.
David Backes
Image via David Backes site.
Image via Getty Images
Age: 20
Team: USA
Sport: Hockey
Why watch him: Nicknamed "Inglorious Backes" after taking on three Canadian players 2010, Backes is a silver medalist from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. He's currently captain of the NHL St. Louis Blues and is a contender to be the US hockey team's captain at the Olympics, though he told USA Today that he still has his mind on the Stanley Cup.
Justin Olsen
Image via Us Army site
Image via Facebook
Age: 26
Team: USA
Sport: Bobsled
Why watch him: Formerly of the United States military, Texas native Olsen has been competing since 2008. He won two medals at the FIBT World Championships in 2009 and also competed on the bobsledding team at the Olympics in 2010.
Shaun White
Image via Team USA
Image via Team USA
Age: 27
Team: USA
Sport: Snowboarding
Why watch him: A two-time gold Olympic medalist, White holds the X-Games record for most gold medals and highest overall medal count. He's also won 10 ESPY Awards and is a desirable snow-day buddy, according to Seventeen Magazine.
Joey Mantia
Image via Joey Mantia site.
Image via Joey Mantia site.
Age: 27
Team: USA
Sport: Speed Skating
Why watch him: Mantia currently holds the world record for inline speed skating, and won nine gold medals at the World Championship. He has a strong social media presence and has been blogging about his brutal Olympic training.
Bode Miller
Image via Team USA
Image via Getty Images
Age: 36
Team: USA
Sport: Alpine Skiing
Why watch him: The five-time Olympic medalist from New Hampshire is no stranger to publicity, making headlines after his brother died, a knee surgery and a nasty custody battle. Bode will become the first US skier to compete in five Olympics and is considered one of the most decorated skiers of all time.
Jesse Beckom III
Image via Jesse site.
Image via Jesse site.
Age: 36
Team: USA
Sport: Bobsled
Why watch him: The Chicago native originally played football at Iowa State before taking on bobsledding in 2002. He has his master's degree in regional planning and used to work as a nightclub bouncer while pursing his dream to compete in the Olympics. He's got backing from companies like Lululemon and Cradle Gear, and previously competed in the National Championships and World Cup.
Sidney Crosby
Image via Facebook
Image via Facebook
Age: 26
Team: Canada
Sport: Hockey
Why watch him: Nicknamed "Sid the Kid," Crosby was just named captain of the Canadian Olympics hockey, which isn't a surprise considering he's the NHL's leading scorer. He's the youngest person in hockey history to be named captain after getting the "C" for the Pittsburg Penguins back in 2007, and has spoken openly about gay rights at the Olympics.
Shani Davis
Image via Team USA
Image via Team USA
Age: 31
Team:USA
Sport: Speed Skating
Why watch him: At the 2006 games in Italy, Davis became the first black athlete in the world to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in an individual sport. Davis currently holds eight world records in speed and is on a list of all-time fastest speed skaters by personal best time.
Jared Zezel
Image via Sochi site.
Image via Getty
Age: 22
Team: USA
Sport: Curling
Why watch him: Currently a college senior at Bemidji State University, Zezel has been curling since 2003. He holds multiple awards since 2009, and appeared on the Today Show last week to show off the Olympics opening ceremony uniform.
Chris Mazdzer
Image via Team USA
Image via Team USA
Age: 25
Team: USA
Sport: Luge
Why watch him: Mazdzer has been competing since 2001 and finished 13th in the 2010 Olympics. A Massachusetts native, he previously played lacrosse and soccer. He scored the silver medal the Whistler World Cup last month.
David Wise
Image via Team USA
Image via Team USA
Age: 24
Team: USA
Sport: Freestyle Skiing
Why watch him: Dubbed by the New York Times as the "undude," Wise previously won the Ski Superpipe at the Winter games last year. A professional skier since age 18, he won his first US National title at 15. The family man got married at 20 and has a three-year-old daughter.
Robin Szolkowy
Image via Ice Network.
Image via Getty Images.
Age: 24
Team: Germany
Sport: Ice Skating
Why watch him: Szolkowy, skating as a pair with partner Aliona Savchenko, is a four-time world champion and a seven-time German National Champion. He's been training since the age of four and is the first skater in history, with his partner, to score a 10 from the ISU judging system.
Patrick Sharp
Image via Getty
Image via Getty Images
Age: 32
Team: Canada
Sport: Hockey
Why watch him: An alternate captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, Sharp has been playing hockey since 2002. His leg-up in the Olympics is his ability to play more than one position, coaches said last week.
Thomas Ulsrud
Image via Thomas Ulsrud site.
Image via Thomas Ulsrud site.
Age: 42
Team: Norway
Sport: Curling
Why watch him: Olsrud has been curling since 1983 and is a European champion and silver Olympic medalist. He has won six world Championships and heads Norway's national team.
Matteo Guarise
Image via Wiki.
Image via JTC Casting
Age: 25
Team: Italy
Sport: Ice Skating
Why watch him: Guarise, an Italian ice-skater, is a part-time model on the side. He won a world title in 2008 and will be competing with partner Nicole Della Monica at the Olympics.
Charles Hamelin
Image via Olympics site.
Age: 25
Team: Canada
Sport: Short Track Speed Skate
Why watch him: A 3-time Olympic medalist, Hamelin made his debut as a world champion in 2002. He set Canada's world record with 14 gold medals, winning them within a half hour of each other.
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