Sochi 2014: The Countdown Series: Sweden

30 days remaining until the opening ceremonies (29 until the first day of competition) at Sochi 2014. Up next on the countdown: Sweden.

Sweden made their winter Olympics debut at Chamonix 1924, and has appeared at every winter Olympics game since. The Swedish contingent in the winter games have won 129 medals, including 48 gold medals.

Cross country skier Thomas Wassberg (pictured) is one of the most successful winter Olympians for Sweden, as he was one of three who have won four gold medals in the winter games for that country. He won the 15km at Lake Placid 1980, followed up by the 50km win at Sarajevo 1984, and also a gold as a member of the 4x10km relay team at Sarajevo as well as Calgary 1988. Sixten Jernberg also won four gold medals in the winter games, and just like Wassberg, he also was a cross country skier. He won the 30km at Squaw Valley 1960, and also won the 50km at Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 and Innsbruck 1964. He was also a 4x10km gold winning team member, also at Innsbruck 1964. The other four-time gold medalist for Sweden in the winter games was Gunde Svan. Svan--another cross country skier--won the 15km at Sarajevo 1984, as well as the 50km at Calgary 1988. He was also a gold medal member of the 4x10km relay team at Sarajevo and Calgary.

Speed skater Tomas Gustafson (pictured) is one of two Swedes to win three gold medals in the winter games. Gustafson won the 5000m at Sarajevo 1984 and Calgary 1988, and also won the 10000m at Calgary. Figure skater Gillis Grafstrom also won three gold medals for Sweden in the winter games, as he won the men's singles at Chamonix 1924 and St. Moritz 1928. He also won gold in the singles at Antwerp 1920, when figure skating was on the summer Olympics program.

Cross country skier Marcus Hellner (pictured) is among seven Swedes who have won two gold medals in the winter games. Hellner won the 30km skiathon and was a member of the 4x10km relay team that won gold, both at Vancouver 2010. He joins six others who have won twice in the winter games for Sweden:

• Martin Lundstrom, cross country, men, 18km and 4x10km relay team member, St. Moritz 1948
• Toini Gustafsson, cross country, women, 5km and 10km, Grenoble 1968
• Ingemar Stenmark, Alpine, men, giant slalom and slalom, Lake Placid 1980
• Jan Ottosson, cross country, men, 4x10km relay team member, Sarajevo 1948 and Calgary 1988
• Pernilla Wiberg, Alpine, women, giant slalom, Albertville 1992 and combined, Lillehammer 1994
• Bjorn Lind, cross country, men, sprint and team sprint, Turin 2006

Men's ice hockey won gold twice in the winter games. Their first win was over Canada in the final at Lillehammer 1994. Their other was in the final in their victory over Finland at Turin 2006.

Women's curling won gold twice in the winter games. Their first win was against Switzerland in the final at Turin 2006. At Vancouver 2010, they followed up with another gold win in the final against Canada.

For Sochi, 93 quota spots available for Sweden, including men's and women's ice hockey and curling, as well as speed skating, cross country and biathlon among others.

Up next: Switzerland