Michael Dwyer / AP file

Despite winning five world championships and nine U.S. titles, Michelle Kwan has yet to capture an Olympic gold medal.

Q: How much has Todd Hays' driving improved over the past few years - despite some fast starts, he still seems somewhat tentative. Does the Turin track suit his driving style and how do you like his chances of beating Andre Lange and Alexandr Zoubkov come February?
Mark Pinelli, Edison, N.J.

A: Stuff happens to Todd Hays in the four-man bobsleigh. Not always good stuff. When he tried out the Cesana Pariol Olympic course back in January 2005, he ran over his own right foot near the start of his first run, suffering a deep cut. He required surgery, but seems to have recovered. Recently, he crashed on the third turn of his home track at Lake Placid, allowing Zoubkov to win. Hayes finished fourth in the two-man sleigh back in 2002, second in the four-man. This time around, he is a contender in both but appears to have a slightly better shot in the two-man, with his partner, Pavle Jovanovic. Jovanovic missed the 2002 Games after testing positive for steroid 19-norandrosterone at the U.S. trials, when he was handed a two-year suspension by the IOC.

Q: Which sport requires the most athleticism in the Winter Olympics? You know, the biggest blend of speed, coordination, agility, all that stuff.
Heather Montgomery, Philadelphia

A: Tough call, but I’ll go with men’s and women’s figure skating. People forget these guys are real jocks. Next time, take a close look at someone like Michelle Kwan, an instant after she’s finished her graceful, four-minute routine. She’ll skate off looking like a 1500-meter runner, huffing, puffing, shoulders hunched forward. It ain’t as easy as it looks.

There are, of course, many spectacular athletes at the Winter Games, from the hockey players to the downhill skiers to the speed skaters. This is a subjective question. The Expert loves subjective questions, because he doesn’t have to do research on them. So keep them coming.

Q: Why is Irina Slutskaya of Russia allowed to compete in Olympic Ladies Figure skating when she is on a drug regimen which includes steroids for a heart ailment? Does WADA grant exemptions, and are they reviewed periodically?
Robert Anzevino, Providence, R.I.

INTERACTIVE Figure skating basics An interactive look at the essentials of the figure skater’s craft

A: Slutskaya has what is called a Therapeutic Use Exemption from WADA, for long-term drug treatment of vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels. The three requirements for such a waiver are: “The athlete would experience significant health problems without tking the prohibited substance,”... “The therapeutic use of the substance would not produce significant enhancement of performance,” and “There is no reasonable therapeutic alternative to the use of the otherwise prohibited substance or method.” A review of this waiver can be initiated at any time during the course of the TUE.

Q: I’m sure Canadians will think I’m just an ignorant American, but I really don’t get curling. Why is it a sport? Isn’t it just shuffleboard on ice? That stuff is for geezers on cruise ships.
George Rooney, Palm Beach, Fla.

A: George, you’re just going to have to get used to the idea that there are a lot of dumb sports at the Olympics. At least curling is peaceful enough, and involves no shooting.