BOBSLED

MEN’S FOUR-MAN

* Where: Cesana Pariol.

* When: Feb. 24-25.

* Best of the U.S.: Todd Hays of Del Rio, Texas, ended a 46-year U.S. medal famine by leading his quartet to a silver medal at Salt Lake City. He was fifth in the World Cup four-man standings, despite skipping the last race to train.

* Best of the rest: Alexandr Zoubkov of Russia was the World Cup four-man champion. Pierre Lueders of Canada and Martin Annen of Switzerland, second and third, respectively, in the World Cup standings, are also experienced and capable.

* U.S. chances to medal: Hays has a good chance.

* Little-known fact: Hays is a former kickboxer.

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MEN’S TWO-MAN

* Where: Cesana Pariol.

* When: Feb. 18-19.

* Best of the U.S.: Hays just missed a medal in this event in Salt Lake City but is likely to make up for that this time around.

* Best of the rest: Pierre Lueders teamed with Lascelles Brown, who switched citizenship from Jamaica to Canada, to win the World Cup two-man title this season. It was Lueders’ sixth title. The Russian sled piloted by Zoubkov will also contend.

* U.S. chances to medal: Reasonable. Hays led the World Cup two-man standings before he skipped the finale to train. He will probably team with Pavle Jovanovic of Toms River, N.J., or Steve Mesler of Buffalo, N.Y.

* Little-known fact: U.S. teams won the first two Olympic gold medals awarded in this event, in 1932 and 1936, but no U.S. team has won since.

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WOMEN’S TWO-WOMAN

* Where: Cesana Pariol.

* When: Feb. 20-21.

* Best of the U.S.: The duo of Shauna Rohbock and Valerie Fleming finished third in the World Cup standings, two places ahead of Jean Prahm (formerly Racine) and Vonetta Flowers. In 2002, Flowers won gold with Jill Bakken.

* Best of the rest: Salt Lake City silver medalist Sandra Kiriasis (formerly Prokoff) of Germany drove to the World Cup title this season. Helen Upperton of Canada was second.

* U.S. chances to medal: Rohbock, a brakeman who became a driver, has a solid shot. Fate might again be unkind to Prahm. She dumped partner Jen Davidson shortly before the 2002 Games and replaced her with Gea Johnson, but Johnson pulled a muscle a few days before the event and couldn’t push well. They finished fifth.

* Little-known fact: Kiriasis’ old sled, nicknamed “the Flying Shark” for its shark motif, has been repainted and reborn as “Nimbus 2006,” with a snow theme.

-- Helene Elliott