The short program start order for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games reads like a Who’s Who in the past decade of men’s figure skating. Among the 30 competitors, at least 10 are considered realistic contenders for podium with three Americans right in the mix.

Sasha Cohen is taking on a new role for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada.

Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett are using the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, as a building block for the future. Although they are not leaving with a medal, the U.S. Champions are leaving with experience. They finished 13th and teammates Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig were 10th.

Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of China won the pairs short program at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, with a world record 76.66 points. Germany’s Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy (75.96) were second while Russia’s Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov (74.16) were third. Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig placed 10th with a personal best 57.86. Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett (53.26) with 14th points.

Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of China set a new short program world record Sunday at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. Less than a year out of retirement, the two-time Olympic bronze medalists proved their time for Olympic glory could be now, winning the first portion of the event with 76.66 points. Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig are 10th with Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett in 14th.

The men’s short program is Feb. 16 at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games is at 4:15 p.m. local time at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada. Johnny Weir skates 25th with Evan Lysacek and Jeremy Abbott skating 28th and 29th.

For 2010 U.S. Champions Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett and national silver medalists Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig, the road to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, has been paved with heartache. But with the short program now hours away, all the sacrifices along the way have proved worth it.

U.S. Champion Rachael Flatt, 17, and silver medalist Mirai Nagasu, 16, started their Olympic experience in a similar way to fellow members of the 2010 U.S. Olympic team. The first step was filling up suitcases with all of the free swag that Nagasu excitedly talked about after her silver medal finish at the 2010 U.S. Championships in Spokane, Wash. Then it was the Opening Ceremony. Now both are headed home.

Only hours after Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died during a practice at the Whistler Sliding Center, the 2010 Olympic Winter Games official opened in Vancouver, Canada, with the Opening Ceremony. Two-time U.S. Champion Meryl Davis said, “The Opening Ceremonies were even more amazing than I had ever imagined. I definitely feel like part of team USA now and I know this is an experience I’ll never forget.”

Ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White nearly perfected their programs en route to winning a second consecutive national title at the 2010 U.S. Championships in Spokane, Wash. The Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, are the time for perfection.