Sochi 2014: The Countdown Series: Germany

84 days remaining until the opening ceremonies of Sochi 2014. Up next on the countdown: Germany.

Germany made their winter Olympics debut at St. Moritz 1928. They would later take a break at St. Moritz 1948, but for almost a quarter of a century, due to the east-west split of the country, was on hiatus until reunification. It was at Albertville 1992 where Germany returned to the Olympics scene as a whole and has competed ever since. 207 medals have been won by German athletes in the winter games, including 78 gold medals (not counting FRG & GDR medals).

Perhaps the most decorated winter Olympian for Germany is speed skater Claudia Pechstein (pictured). Pechstein has the most individual gold medals among any German athlete in the winter Olympics with five. She has won the 5000m event three times: the first at Lillehammer 1994, then at Nagano 1998 and then at Salt Lake City 2002. She also won 3000m gold at Salt Lake City, as well as a participant of the 6 lap team pursuit at Turin 2006, in which she won her 5th gold medal.

Perhaps one of bobsledding's most successful duos is the team of Kevin Kuske and Andre Lange (pictured). Both have won four golds each; in the two man at Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010 and was a part of the four man team that won gold at Salt Lake City 2002 and Turin 2006. Two of four Germans to win four gold medals in the winter games. Biathlete Ricco Grob was the first to do so, as he won all of his as a part of the 4x7.5km relay team at Albertville 1992, Lillehammer 1994, Nagano 1998 and Turin 2006. Sven Fischer also won four gold medals in biathlon. He won three as a member of the 4x7.5km relay team at Lillehammer 1994, Nagano 1998 and Turin 2006 (with Grob) and in the 10km sprint at Turin 2006.

Biathlete Michael Greis (pictured) is among eight Germans to win three gold medals in the winter games. Greis won all of three of his--in the 15km mass start, 20k and as a member of the 4x7.5km relay team--at Turin 2006. He joins the following who have won three golds in the winter games for Germany:

• Mark Kirchner, biathlon, men's 10km sprint, 4x7.5km relay member, Albertville 1992 and 4x7.5km relay member, Lillehammer 1994
• Gunda Niemann Kleeman, women's speed skating, 3000m at Albertville 1992 and Nagano 1998 and 5000m at Albertville 1992
• Georg Hackl, luge, men's singles, Albertville 1992, Lillehammer 1994 and Nagano 1998
• Jens Weibflog, men's ski jump, men's normal hill, Sarajevo 1984 (with GDR), men's large hill, individual and team, Lillehammer 1994
• Katja Seizinger, Alpine, women's downhill, Lillehammer 1994 and Nagano 1998 and combined at Nagano 1998
• Kati Wilhelm, biathlon, women's 7.5km sprint and 4x7.5km relay, Salt Lake City 2002, and 10km pursuit, Turin 2006
• Anni Friesinger, speed skating, women, 1500m, Salt Lake City 2002 & 6 lap team pursuit team, Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010

Several Germans have won two gold medals in the winter Olympics:

• Lorenz Nieberl, bobsleigh, two and four man, Oslo 1952
• Andreas Ostler, bobsleigh, two and four man, Oslo 1952
• Thomas Kohler, men's singles, Innsbruck 1964 and mixed men's doubles luge, Grenoble 1968 (with GDR)
• Jan Behrendt, luge, mixed men's doubles, Albertville 1992 and Nagano 1998
• Stefan Kraube, luge, mixed men's doubles, Albertville 1992 and Nagano 1998
• Uwe Jens Mey, speed skating, men, 500m, Calgary 1988 (with GDR) and Albertville 1992
• Markus Wasmeier, Alpine, men's Super G and giant slalom, Lillehammer 1994
• Frank Luck, biathlon, men's 4x7.5km relay team, Lillehammer 1994 and Nagano 1998
• Olaf Hampel, bobsleigh, men's fours, Lillehammer 1994 and Nagano 1998
• Uschi Disl, biathlon, women's 4x7.5km relay team, Nagano 1998 and Salt Lake City 2002
• Katrin Apel, biathlon, women's 4x7.5km relay team, Nagano 1998 and Salt Lake City 2002
• Christoph Langen, bobsleigh, men's fours, Nagano 1998 and men's two, Salt Lake City 2002
• Markus Zimmerman, bobsleigh, men's fours, Nagano 1998 and men's two, Salt Lake City 2002
• Andrea Henkel, biathlon, women's 4x7.5km relay team and 15km, Salt Lake City 2002
• Evi Sachenbacher, cross country, women's 4x5km relay team, Salt Lake City 2002 and team sprint, Vancouver 2010
• Claudia Kunzel Nystad, cross country, women, 4x5km relay team, Salt Lake City 2002 and team sprint, Vancouver 2010
• Sylke Otto, luge, women's singles, Salt Lake City 2002 and Turin 2006
• Daniela Anschutz Thomas, speed skating, women's 6 lap team pursuit, Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010
• Magdalena Neuner, biathlon, women's 10km pursuit and 12.5km mass start, Vancouver 2010
• Maria Riesch, Alpine, women's slalom and combined, Vancouver 2010

As of now, 38 quota spots for Germany at Sochi, including spots in women's ice hockey, as well as speed skating and biathlon.

Germany was the host country for the winter Olympics of 1936 at Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Up next: Ghana