5 Reasons Eddy Alvarez is Our Favorite Speedskater

Short Track Speedskating is lovingly is dubbed the “NASCAR of Winter Sports." Though you won't find any flying tires, you will most definitely witness the need for speed. And one of the fastest on the ice is Team USA's Eddy Alvarez. He currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the talented athlete hails from the not-so-icy Miami, Fla.

Though 2014 will be Alvarez’s first Olympics, it won’t be his first time skating on the international level. He’s already placed amongst the 2013 World Cup Championship, the 2013 US Speedskating Championships, and the 2009 Jr. World Team Member Gold medal 3k Relay.

And in the NASCAR of Winter Sports, Alvarez will lace up with $1,000 dollar pairs of skates. The Mercedes Benz of skates! So, ya know, speedskating is no small business, and a lot is riding on Alvarez and the rest of his US Men’s Team: J.R. Celski, Chris Creveling, Kyle Carr, and 2010 Olympian Jordan Malone. It’s one of the most thrilling and challenging years for the team— it’s the first since 1998 that the US has competed without mega-Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno, who's won more medals than any other American athlete in Winter Olympics history (two Gold, two Silver, and four Bronze). OH DIP.

With fresh skates and fresh faces, Team USA brings a lot of excitement to this year’s competition. And Alvarez is one of our favorites to watch. Here’s why:

He’s Already made US Speedskating History

Alvarez was one of six members on Team USA in the 2013 ISU Short Track World Cup. The team took home the Gold in the 5,000-meter relay, a first for the US in the history of this championship.

And He's Already Made Olympic History

In Sochi, Alvarez will become the second Cuban-American from Miami (and first Cuban-American man) to make it the Winter Games in speedskating. The first was Jennifer Rodriguez in the 2002 Vancouver games. (GET IT, GIRL!)

He Traded Blades... For Blades

Alvarez used to be an avid (and adorable) rollerblader in South Beach, Miami. He decided to switch over to speedskating when he was just nine years old.

He Looks Up to His Peers

Alvarez says his favorite Olympic Gold moment was when fellow speedskater Ohno won his first Gold. AWWWW.

He's a Bonafide Comedian

Image: ChrisReed619/Twitter