Olympic Athletes Profile- (21 of 25) Michael Schmid/men's skicross/Switzerland

We are getting closer to the proverbial finish line with our 21st profile (this was a crazy idea, actually!), and since we looked at Jamaican skicrosser Errol Kerr in Entry 3 of the series, we thought we'd look out at the man who ended up winning the competition (though Kerr performed quite well, advancing to the finals of the event).

Schmid, who turns 26 on March 18, won the gold medal at the Vancouver games over fellow skicrossers Andreas Matt of Austria (silver) and Audurn Groenvold of Norway (bronze) on Monday. These Olympics marked the debut of skicross, which had previously been known mainly to Winter X-Games spectators (the event is held annually in Aspen, Colo.).

The Swiss skicrosser debuted in 2004, and he finished fifth the following year at the sport's world championships in Ruka, Finland.

Schmid consistently ranked in the top ten, and he won his first World Cup race in 2009 in Austria.

During the Olympic competition, Canadian Chris Del Bosco, a Winter X-Games gold medalist, fell on his next to last jump which allowed his competitors to move up in the rankings.

According to the AP, Schmid handled a series of jumps and banked turns which allowed him to win the gold medal.

"It was not easy," Schmid said. "You must have a perfect day when you go to the Olympic competition."

Olmpic Athlete Profile (3 of 25)- Errol Kerr, a Skier from Jamaica

In our third installment of our series on Winter Olympic athletes at the Vancouver 2010 games, we examine Errol Kerr, who is not a mere novelty athlete even though he is a skier from Jamaica. I had the opportunity to become Facebook friends with Kerr, who finished ninth in the skicross competition at the recent Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo.

Kerr was born on April 12, 1986, in Truckee, Calif., to a Jamaican father and an American mother. He maintains dual citizenship. Kerr told the English newspaper "The Times" that he decided to represent Jamaica as a skier because of his father who died when Kerr was 14:

"He (my father) never skied a day in his life," Kerr said in the interview. "But, I'm doing this for him. I'm proud of my heritage. It's in my blood."

Kerr told the blog "Black Political Thought" (http://blackpoliticalthought.blogspot.com) that he loves being a minority in winter sports, especially in in skicross, which is the only new sport in Vancouver this year:

"I just think it is very exciting," Kerr told the blog. "It lays the groundwork for more and more people to come along and do what I have done. Someone always has to do it first and then it seems easy."

Kerr is the first skier for Jamaica, and he is the only athlete representing the island nation at the games. He has also emphasized that as much as he admires the famous Jamaican bobsled team which competed at the 1988 Calgary Olympics, there are significant differences between them and his efforts as he has placed fairly high in international competitions.

Recently, Kerr finished 28th at the 2010 World Cup held at Blue Mountain, Ontario (Canada) and he came in 15th at a global competition in Lake Placid, NY, in January.

While he was in Canada for the World Cup of skiing, Kerr talked to inner city youths in nearby Toronto. According to his own web site, Kerr said that he told the Toronto youths to 'be the best at whatever you do.' Kerr added: "Even if you aren't that good, you will be some day if you keep trying."

Kerr has become quite a media sensation as his web site has discussed his interviews with tv stations around America, including ones in Denver and Sacramento, as well as other media outlets around the world.

The Jamaican skier started with the sport when he was four years old, and he began competitive skiing by age 11. Kerr has a unique breakfast routine. According to jamaicans.com, he eats five to seven eggs for breakfast each morning. Kerr then goes snow training. After lunch, he then goes bicycling. Kerr told the web site that he typically skis downhill at a speed of between 70-80 miles per hour.

Kerr will be competiting in skicross on Sunday (Feb. 21). One can join his Facebook fan page to get updates from Vancouver on his schedule and his preparations for the proverbial big race down the hills.