WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Olympic gold medalists Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin and Ted Ligety, and two-time medalist Andrew Weibrecht will lead a strong US Olympic Alpine Ski Team of 22 men and women at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

The US Ski and Snowboard Association announced the team on Wednesday but the selections will be confirmed by the United States Olympic Committee when it formally names Team USA this Friday.

The team includes 22 athletes who qualified for the team through one or more top-three finishes, top five finishes, and top 10 finishes. World Cup points were also brought into consideration. Qualification criteria include results produced in 2017-18 FIS World Cup races.

The alpine team will have its first Olympic competition on February 11 with the men's downhill event. The women will kick off with the giant slalom event on February 12.