The Shadow
Without winning a gold medal in the Winter Olympics during the first five days, Team USA made a valiant stretch run, winning eight gold medals and 25 total medals to finish fifth behind Norway.
Norway won the most gold medals with a record-breaking 16 and finished first ahead of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), a team of Russians who were not competing under Russia’s flag because of the Olympic Committee having banned Russia from officially competing due to past violations concerning its athletes using performance-enhancing drugs.
Finishing with 16-8-13 for 37 medals, Norway defeated ROC that finished as the runner-up team unofficially with 6-12-14, a total of 32.
Lindsey Jacobellis broke the ice for Team USA by winning the team’s first gold medal in the snowboard cross, and Team USA’s women’s hockey team competed for the gold but had to settle for silver as Canada prevailed 3-2.
Germany officially finished second in the medal count with a record of 12-10-5 for 27, and Canada edged Team USA for third place by posting a 4-8-14 total of 26.
Team USA’s gold medalists other than Jacobellis were Kaillie Humphries, Women’s Monobob; Nathan Chen, Men’s Figure Skating; Alexander Hall, Men’s Freeski Slopestyle; Erin Jackson, Women’s 500m Speed Skating; Chloe Kim, Women’s Snowboard Halfpipe; USA-Mixed Team Aerials and USA-Mixed Team Snowboard Cross.
Finland upset ROC, the favorite, by winning its first gold medal in men’s ice hockey after winning silver in 1988 and 2006 and claiming bronze in 1994, 1998, 2010, and 2014.
Finland, the nation that was never conquered during World War II, fought off the Russians to claim a 2-1 victory in the National Indoor Stadium.
David Wise won the silver and Alex Ferreira took the bronze in the free ski halfpipe down the stretch to keep Team USA in the hunt. Team USA officially finished in fourth place overall.
Norway, a nation that is known for its mountains covered with snow and population that delights in participating in winter sports has dominated the Winter Olympics in recent years. The population of Norway is only five million.
