Alright ladies and gentlemen! Sochi 2014, the Winter Games of the XXII Olympiad has come and gone. There have been so many stars (as usual with Olympic games as a whole), but these ten are some of the outstanding ones.
With that in mind...my top ten stars of Sochi 2014.
10. Martin Fourcade
Fourcade--no relation to John, the former NFL Saints quarterback--has set the standard for French biathletes with his performance at Sochi, including the 12km and 20km, where he won two gold medals among his three he won.
9. Victor An
An--a native of the Republic of Korea (host nation for 2018)--switched citizenship to Russia after injuries. And it paid off. He won three gold medals at Sochi: the 500m, 1000m and was a part of the 5000m that was among about ten Olympic records that were set during the games. Amazing. Wonder what treatment he will get (if any) if he qualifies for Pyeongchang? And will he do it again? We'll see.
8. Darya Domracheva
Domracheva's three gold medals in biathlon is among five in the games for Belarus. She won the 10km pursuit, 15km and 12.5km mass start! Impressive for this Belarussian biathlete!
7. Canada Curling
Canada curling has swept both men's and women's tournaments this year. While the women won gold against Sweden, the men had to get by Team GB in the final, and they did. Sochi 2014 was the sixth curling tournament for men, and no one has had any success until Canada's men did in 2014. Three peat! A first in Olympic curling history!
6. Tina Maze
My way is my decision (as the title of her only song suggests). She never gave up, even though Sochi 2014 is her final Olympics (from what I've read around the net). Hence, the two gold medals she won in downhill and giant slalom suggests: will she even think about qualifying for Pyeongchang? How much does she have in the tank? Only time will tell.
5. Hockey Canada
On the men's side everyone thought Sweden or the USA Hockey would be favored to win. Never happened. On the women's side, everyone thought USA Hockey had it in the bag despite good, decent performances in the tournament. So close. On the other hand, there was Hockey Canada. No one knew they would have what it takes to repeat what both teams did at Vancouver 2010. Remember, ice hockey is one of the
most unpredictable sports in the world, where anything can happen. And it did. For the second straight Olympics, Hockey Canada swept the men's and women's tournaments, starting with the come from behind win in the women's final against USA Hockey, sparked by the two late goals by Marie Poulin. A day later, despite excellent performances by both Carey Price and Jonathan Quick in goal, Hockey Canada's men defeated USA Hockey 1-0 in the semifinal, thanks to Stars forward Jamie Benn's lone goal in the second period. That was the rematch of the men's final from Vancouver. The idea of never giving up is basically the theme for Hockey Canada at Sochi, and it shows.
4. Ireen Wust
In her third winter Olympics, the Dutch skater (never mind her personal status) contributed to five of twenty-four medals for the Dutch in Sochi, including the women's team pursuit and the 1000m. She won three gold and two silver, thus making her the most medaled Olympian at Sochi.
3. Marit Bjoergen
With three gold medals--including the relay, skiathlon and team sprint--she is now at twelve medals, making her the most decorated female Olympian in the winter games. Not bad. She also ties Bjorn Daehlie (her fellow countryman) for most medals in the winter games at twelve. All of this despite rumors of her doping. Who made that allegation?
2. Ole Einar Bjoerndalen
What an Olympics for this man, among the dozen (approximately) who are over 40 and qualified for the Sochi games! He added two more gold medals in the 10km and mixed relay to add to his career total to nine, tying his fellow countryman Bjorn Daehlie with nine gold medals. In addition, he was elected to the IOC Athlete's Commission along with Hockey Canada forward (and former HC women's captain) Hayley Wickenheiser. Quite an Olympic games for him. Could this be his last Olympics for this biathlon legend?
And the #1 star(s) of Sochi 2014 is (are)...
1. Dutch Speed Skating
With 23 of the 24 medals in speed skating, they are now the kings and queens of their sport. The most medals won in a sport in not just winter Olympic history, but Olympic history as a whole. Six Olympic records, including records set in the team pursuits, as well as in individual races, such as Jorrit Bergsma in the 10,000m and Sven Kramer in the 5,000m. Impressive stuff for a nation that is rich in history in this sport, going back to the days of van Gennip and Schenk. Quite impressive stuff.
Honorable mentions:
- Dario Cologna. The Swiss biathlete won two gold medals. Quite a spark for Swiss biathlon.
- Sven Kramer. Two gold medals, including the aforementioned 5000m, where he set one of many Olympic records on the Adler track.
- Jorien Ter Mors. Competing in both long and short track, she set the 1500m record inside Adler, and also won two gold medals, including the 1500m.
- Vic Wild. US-born, married to a Russian, but changed nationality and still won two snowboarding gold. All because US Snowboarding didn't support him technically and financially. Slap in the face of the US Snowboarding federation. An opportunity to compete for another nation is just what he wanted and it worked out. Don't call him a traitor unless you read and comprehend the story carefully.
- Tatiana Volosozhar. Don't mention figure skating a lot, but she won two gold medals, including in the inaugural team competition in the ice dancing competition.
- Felix Loch. The German luger swept both the single and doubles luge gold. Impressive.
- Emil Svendsen. Two gold medals in biathlon, not bad for the Norwegian flag bearer at opening ceremonies.
- Teemu Selanne. Got bronze as Finnish captain in the 5-0 win over USA Hockey men (scored two goals in the match). Could this be his last Olympics at 43? And could another Cup cap off his career? Stay tuned.
- Hubertus von Hohenlohe. A member of royalty who skied for Mexico, but didn't fair well.
- Vanessa Mae. Yes folks, the violinist, also competed in a skiing event at Sochi on behalf of father's birth land of Thailand. Great talent though.
- Jamaican two man bobsleigh. Despite posting the second slowest speed in the event (29th of 30), it was an accomplishment just to be there. It has been over a quarter of a century since the four man team's historic run at Calgary 1988 that resulted in a crash. Five years later, Cool Runnings, the film based upon the four man's team qualification for and runs at Calgary was released theatrically. Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme indeed.
So there it is folks. The best stars of Sochi 2014. What will Pyeongchang 2018 bring to the table? Stay tuned.
