Gold, who is the 2012 world junior silver medallist, claimed securing a podium finish at the Winter Games in Russia is a "realistic goal" but she will face tough competition, particularly from South Korea's Kim Yuna, Italian Carolina Kostner and Mao Asada of Japan - the gold, silver and bronze medallists, respectively, at the 2013 World Championships.

"I've learned that not everything has to be going perfectly for me to do well," Gold, who last year changed coaches to Frank Carroll, who mentored Evan Lysacek to gold at Vancouver 2010, said.

"I'm a little better skater than I thought, I should trust myself more, control my nerves."

Vonn has, however, been revealed as an Olympic correspondent for NBC after an ongoing knee injury put paid to her chances of defending the downhill gold she won at Vancouver 2010.

Lindsey Vonn will report on Sochi 2014 for NBC from the United States ©Getty Images


She will report daily from the US for Today, and will contribute to NBC Sports Olympic coverage.

Another Olympian in the form of Nancy Kerrigan, who figure skating silver at Lillehammer 1994, will also be working with NBC during the Games as she serves as a figure skating analyst for the broadcaster.

She will also appear on shows and programmes, including Today, Access Hollywood and E!.

NBCUniversal has also revealed its Sochi 2014 strategy and said, although it is taking security threats seriously following a spate of terrorist attacks in Russia, it will not enhance measures to protest its 2,700 employees in the Black Sea resort.

It argued that the Olympic Village will be the safest location in the country because the nation's security services have established a "ring of steel" around the area.

NBC's Olympics executive producer Jim Bell said that employees travelling to Sochi will be briefed on security protocols.

NBC has said it is not increasing security measures for its employees in Sochi following a series of deadly bombs in Russia but insisted it is taking the matter seriously ©AFP/Getty Images


NBC has also said that the "security" of gay employees is of paramount importance following the introduction of Russia's controversial anti-gay propaganda law, which was passed last June.

The network will broadcast more than 1,500 hours of coverage from the Sochi 2014 Games across its NBC, NBC Sports Network, MSNBC, USA and CNBC channels and online at NBCOlympics.com - more airtime than the previous two Winter Olympics combined.

A nine-hour time difference means that NBC, which for the first time in a decade has sold its entire Olympic advertising, will present a tape-delayed primetime package, with all events streamed live.

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