NPR SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS 2014 COVERAGE & MEDAL STANDINGS FROM 23JAN14 THROUGH 15FEB14

THE coverage of the Sochi Winter Olympics 2014 from NPR.....

US MEN'S ICE HOCKEY BEATS RUSSIA IN PRELIMINARY ROUND

February 15, 2014 11:11 AM

Team USA beat out their rivals in a heart-stopping sudden-death shootout as Russian President Vladimir Putin watched from the stands.

GOOD AS GOLD; UTAH'S PIKUS-PACE WINS SILVER MEDAL IN SOCHI 
February 14, 2014 6:57 PM

After coming out of a two-year retirement, Noelle Pikus-Pace wins a medal that long eluded her. At 31, eight years after she was first seen as an Olympics favorite, she celebrated with her two children in Sochi.

MAYBE IT'S THE SUIT: U.S. SPEEDSKATERS SWAP GEAR IN SOCHI 
February 14, 2014 5:54 PM

So far, no U.S. speedskater has finished better than seventh in Sochi while wearing a new race suit. Now the American skaters will switch back to the suit they wore during a successful World Cup season.

SOCHI GAMES 'BETTER THAN EXPECTED'; SWISS WIN SUPER COMBINED 
Journey To Olympic Glory

©2014 NPR

by Sam H. Sanders

February 14, 201410:52 AM

The IOC says it's pleased with how the games have turned out so far. Meanwhile, Sandro Viletta of Switzerland took gold Friday in men's super-combined slalom, a sport American Ted Ligety had been expected to dominate.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/13/276522439/in-mens-figure-skating-u-s-pins-hopes-on-a-new-class
by

February 13, 2014 5:49 PM

The U.S. is defending its gold medal in men's figure skating, but without the star power of previous games. Two skaters in Sochi, 19-year-old Jason Brown and 28-year-old Jeremy Abbott — represent the near future of the sport in America.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/13/276455875/russian-star-plushenko-withdraws-from-mens-skating 

February 13, 201412:12 PM

Evgeni Plushenko wanted to compete one more time in a bid to win an individual gold before his home fans. But recurring back problems appear to have forced him to pull out of the competition. Plushenko, 31, won a gold medal in 2006 and helped his team win a gold this week.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/13/276343154/stomping-and-shredding-the-gnar-a-brief-slopestyle-glossary
by Sam H. Sanders

February 13, 2014 7:20 AM

The language of slopestyle can be a little confusing. Gold medal winner Joss Christensen of Utah sat down with us to break down some of the terms.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/13/276276906/the-biggest-ticket-in-sochi-u-s-mens-hockey 

February 13, 2014 5:00 AM

Team Russia — led by Alexander Ovechkin — and its fans talk constantly of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" and the team's loss four years ago in Vancouver. On Saturday, they'll meet a young and "hungry" Team USA.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/12/276047418/substitute-racer-takes-olympic-silver-in-sochi 

February 12, 2014 6:34 PM

Olympic athletes often endure weeks of anticipation as pressure builds toward their moment on the global stage. That wasn't a problem for Canadian Denny Morrison, who got his spot in the speedskating finals just one day ahead of the race.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/12/275821296/u-s-speedskater-shani-davis-goes-for-gold-in-1-000-meters
by

February 12, 2014 7:09 AM

Also: Canada beats Team USA in women's hockey, but the teams are likely to face again later in the gold medal game; the women's downhill ski race ends in a way that's virtually unheard of.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/11/275391710/photo-sochi-olympic-park-as-seen-from-space
by Eyder Peralta

February 11, 2014 3:54 PM

The astronauts aboard the International Space Station give us a view of the Olympics that we haven't seen.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/11/275354180/erin-hamlin-sets-a-u-s-first-with-medal-in-luge
by

February 11, 2014 2:43 PM

German Natalie Geisenberger's winning margin of 1.139 seconds was the largest at the Olympics since 1964, the sport's first year at the games. The American Hamlin says of her medal, "It's surreal, really."

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/11/275344194/shaun-white-falls-short-of-three-peat-quest-in-half-pipe
by

February 11, 2014 1:47 PM

The top five finishers all pulled off their best runs in the second half of the competition – none more so than White, who stood in 11th place after the first run with a score of 35.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/11/275239948/female-ski-jumpers-finally-make-their-olympic-debut
by

February 11, 201410:22 AM

Jumpers Lindsey Van and Jessica Jerome spent a decade advocating for the event's inclusion. "There's nothing to wait for anymore," says Van. "I'm here, and it feels good." Their teammate Sarah Hendrickson, meanwhile, has another battle to fight, as she competes on a newly reconstructed knee.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/11/275228981/shaun-white-goes-for-threepeat-indias-team-gets-its-flag
by Sam H. Sanders

February 11, 2014 8:32 AM

Tuesday's highlights include the snowboarder's bid to become the first American man to earn gold medals at three straight Winter Olympics. Meanwhile, the three members of Team India can now officially compete for their nation. A dispute over that nation's organizing committee has been settled.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/11/275087488/olympic-snowboarders-groove-to-dj-naka-g
by

February 11, 2014 5:00 AM

Olympic organizers in Sochi are trying to feature Russian culture, but when it comes to music, they've brought in help from the USA: Mike Nakagawa from Aspen, Colo. One catch: The Olympics have some strict rules on what he can play.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/10/274758010/u-s-and-canadian-womens-hockey-brings-plenty-of-heat-to-the-ice
by

February 11, 2014 3:44 AM

The two teams will meet Wednesday in an early round game, but they have an intense rivalry that has often turned to heated clashes on the ice. The players are neither embarrassed nor proud of the fighting, but, yes, it could happen again.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/10/274748106/the-norwegian-athlete-whos-one-medal-away-from-history
by

February 10, 2014 7:19 PM

Ole Einar Bjoerndalen is a biathlete competing for a record 13th medal — which would make him the most decorated athlete ever at the Winter Games. No one has ever been so good for so long in his sport. "He's 40 years old, and he's motivated like an 18-year-old," says one expert.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/10/274904584/time-delay-question-when-do-announcers-tape
by

February 10, 2014 6:33 PM

The Winter Olympics brings up many questions about the sports themselves. But people are also wondering whether TV announcers use the U.S.-Sochi time gap to improve their coverage.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/10/274657459/slopestyle-skier-devin-logan-keeps-it-cool-but-shes-all-in
by Sam H. Sanders

February 10, 2014 6:31 PM

Much of the attention on the Olympic slopestyle events has focused on snowboarders, but the downhill event is also done on skis. Devin Logan enters Tuesday's competition as the world's top-ranked female freestyle skier. And at 20, she'll compete before she can legally celebrate with a beer.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/10/274723954/so-far-at-the-games-a-low-key-response-to-russias-anti-gay-law
by

February 10, 2014 2:03 PM

There haven't been any pronouncements in favor of gay rights at news conferences or on medal stands yet. And LGBT activists aren't too surprised.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/10/274624238/spoiler-alert-medals-in-womens-super-combined-mens-short-track
by

February 10, 2014 8:10 AM

Among Monday's highlights in Sochi: Maria Hoefl-Riesch's third career gold medal; American Julia Mancuso skis to a bronze; Charles Hamelin of Canada wins the men's 1500-meter short track speed skating; Team USA dominates Switzerland in women's hockey.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/09/274110286/new-team-figure-skating-already-has-its-share-of-controversy
by

February 09, 201410:20 AM

The U.S. and Russian teams are fending off accusations from a French sports website that they are colluding to help each other win medals.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/08/273885791/u-s-speedskaters-get-a-little-help-from-their-friends
by

February 09, 2014 8:53 AM

U.S. Olympic teams have been more successful in speedskating than in any other winter sport. The secret to their success includes talent, skill and hard work, but there's also a network of support that buoys the team.

 http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/09/274079085/u-s-sweeps-slopestyle-snowboarding-with-womens-gold
by

February 09, 2014 7:54 AM

In a near flawless run, Jamie Anderson took the medal a day after teammate Sage Kotsenburg clinched the men's gold.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/08/273768974/sochi-games-expose-indian-corruption-and-redemption
by

February 08, 2014 5:17 PM

Luger Shiva Keshavan faces an uphill battle not only to train for the Olympics, but even to carry his country's flag. He and fellow Indian athletes are officially "stateless" at the games.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/08/273633414/olympic-guests-finding-comfort-zone-in-first-day-of-games
by Sam H. Sanders

February 08, 2014 3:01 PM

The day after the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games, in the heart of the Olympic Park, visitors were upbeat. And all the controversies of previous days — stray dogs and unfinished digs — seemed to fall away.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/07/273096039/is-early-sochi-criticism-par-for-the-course
by Krishnadev Calamur

February 08, 201410:52 AM

The Sochi Olympics have been criticized for poor preparation, security concerns, and Russia's policies on human and animal rights. The Russians aren't pleased. But host-bashing is a popular pastime.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/08/273569576/first-gold-medal-goes-to-an-american
by

February 08, 2014 8:54 AM

Slopestyle snowboarder Sage Kotsenburg has won the first gold medal in the Sochi Olympics, as the American women's ice hockey team gets off to a good start.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/07/273137059/olympic-photo-of-the-day-giant-head-edition
by NPR Staff

February 07, 2014 4:35 PM

Imagery from Russia's recent past – including the hammer and sickle that adorned the flag of the Soviet Union – is seen in the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Olympics Friday.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/07/273068665/4-gay-activists-arrested-in-russia-as-olympics-kick-off
by Eyder Peralta

February 07, 201412:38 PM

The activists unfurled a banner quoting the Olympic Charter's ban on discrimination. Preceding the Olympics, Russia passed a ban on gay "propaganda."

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/07/273039026/sochi-winter-olympics-opening-ceremony-live-blog
by

February 07, 201411:00 AM

Large-scale pageantry opened the Sochi Olympics on Friday, in a symbolically rich opening ceremony that was marred by an early and highly visible mistake — one of five massive Olympic rings failed to fully appear.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/07/272684876/in-team-event-figure-skating-rivals-cheer-for-each-other
by

February 07, 2014 3:24 AM

This is the first Olympics where figure skaters from each country are competing as teams. It's twice the skating, which is great for ratings, but it also means athletes in this individualized sport now have to work together.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/06/272629365/in-sochi-an-olympic-artist-sees-the-possible
by Sam H. Sanders

February 06, 2014 6:30 PM

Artist Marc Ahr has been drawing the Olympics for 22 years. For him, it doesn't matter what the press narrative is, how the countries are preparing, or even who wins or loses. Asked about negative news surrounding Sochi, he says that here, "everything is impossible, but everything is possible."

 http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/06/272478534/sochis-stray-dogs-melt-hearts-and-put-officials-on-defensive
by

February 06, 2014 5:13 PM

The stray dogs roaming Russia's Olympics venues have already become the unofficial mascots of the Winter Games. Olympics officials say no healthy dogs will be destroyed, but animal rights groups worried about the fate of the dogs are taking in as many as they can.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/06/272171536/what-do-you-want-to-know-about-the-sochi-olympics
by

February 06, 201410:08 AM

Are people excited about the Winter Olympics? Don't figure skaters get dizzy? Those are some of the questions being answered on Quora, the "knowledge sharing" site. We'll highlight interesting questions during the 2014 Winter Games.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/06/272428076/how-to-watch-all-of-the-games-step-1-prove-yourself-worthy
by

February 06, 2014 9:51 AM

Like to get your Olympics fix the old-fashioned way in prime time? NBC-TV has that covered. The network is also putting more than 1,000 hours of its coverage online, live. The catch: You need to show you're a cable TV or satellite TV subscriber, so have your credentials at hand.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/06/272391325/olympic-events-kick-off-under-shadow-of-security-concerns
by NPR Staff

February 06, 2014 9:02 AM

A Russian official says the security situation in Sochi is no worse than in New York, Boston or Washington. Meanwhile, slopestyle snowboarding makes its Olympic debut, without American star Shaun White.

 http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/05/271110797/an-olympic-preview-from-the-canon-of-russian-literature
by Andrew D. Kaufman

February 05, 2014 7:00 AM

Southern Russia, the venue for the coming Winter Olympics, is a wild land known for its breathtaking beauty and centuries of conflict. It has long inspired Russian writers; here are three classic books on the region.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/05/271873777/olympic-snowboarder-shaun-white-withdraws-from-slopestyle
by

February 05, 2014 5:00 AM

The sport's biggest star says the slopestyle course in Sochi is too risky for him; several top athletes have already been injured. He will still compete in halfpipe, and hopes to pick up his third gold medal in the event.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/05/271566098/hundreds-of-snow-making-machines-are-hard-at-work-in-sochi
by

February 05, 2014 3:31 AM

There's plenty of snow for the Olympics. A massive, fully automatic snow-making system operated by a Michigan-based company comes complete with two man-made lakes to draw water from. The company says the snow that's been pumped so far could cover more than 900 football fields.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/04/271535281/countdown-to-sochi-will-the-city-be-ready
by

February 04, 2014 4:00 PM

With the Winter Olympics just days away, the status of preparations in Sochi is mixed: Housing for the athletes has been getting rave reviews, but hotels and other buildings are still unfinished.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/04/271114825/skater-sonja-henie-put-a-dollar-sign-behind-the-gold
by Brian Mann

February 04, 2014 3:45 AM

NCPR The Norwegian figure skater reinvented the sport, adding grace and lyricism while also helping to commercialize it. She translated her gold medals into a high-flying Hollywood career, but also sparked controversy by rubbing shoulders with Adolf Hitler himself.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/04/268992498/a-tiny-town-steeped-in-skiing-tradition-has-its-first-olympian
by Patty Wight

February 04, 2014 3:43 AM

MPBN Russell Currier, a native of Stockholm, Maine, earned a spot on the Olympic biathlon team, and that has his hometown abuzz. It's a reward for a region that's spent more than a decade rekindling its Nordic skiing roots.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/03/268917536/the-games-are-a-great-party-but-not-a-great-investment
by and Joanna Kakissis

February 03, 2014 3:26 AM

Despite the enormous cost of hosting the Olympics, many former venues are languishing away unused.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/02/02/267627802/after-decade-long-fight-ski-jumper-lindsey-van-is-ready-to-fly
by

February 02, 2014 5:18 PM

The 29-year-old from Park City, Utah, will compete on the U.S. Olympic team in Sochi this month. What it took to get there is more than she ever imagined.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/01/28/267813591/american-barista-fulfills-olympic-dream-on-swiss-hockey-team
by Lauren Katz

January 30, 2014 3:06 PM

Jessica Lutz has shuttled between Europe and the U.S., with the goal of getting to the Sochi Olympics. For most of the past year, she crafted latte art at a Washington, D.C., coffee shop.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/01/30/268611145/mariachi-olympic-prince-takes-glamour-to-sochi-ski-slopes
by

January 30, 2014 3:32 AM

Hubertus Von Hohenlohe will be the only skier representing Mexico in the Winter Olympics in Russia. A German prince and one of the oldest athletes to be competing in the Winter Olympics, Hohenlohe says he doesn't expect to win any medals. But he does hope people will notice his flair for fashion.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/01/30/268377677/high-schoolers-hit-the-slopes-and-the-books-at-team-academy
by

January 30, 2014 3:29 AM

Elite athletes start their sports young and sometimes sacrifice academics; some even drop out of high school. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association says it wants to prevent that by opening its own high school. But no mistake: Academics there aren't as important as winning.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/01/29/267766668/too-far-too-complicated-why-some-families-will-sit-out-sochi
by Brian Mann

January 29, 2014 2:56 AM

NCPR Families of athletes normally make a pilgrimage to see the Olympics, but this year is different: The trip is more costly than previous games and, for many, more nerve-wracking.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/01/28/267844170/cool-runnings-the-one-man-east-timor-version
by

January 28, 2014 7:28 PM

Before he could be sent to Sochi, Yohan Goutt Goncalves, 19, first had to take the unusual step of creating his country's national skiing federation.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/01/28/267603137/a-homemade-wooden-luge-track-launches-teen-to-sochi
by

January 28, 2014 4:00 PM

WSHU When Tucker West was 6, his father built an 800-foot-long luge track in their backyard. Now, at 18, West is the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic luge team.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/01/27/267203667/x-games-show-the-olympics-what-the-kids-want
by

January 27, 2014 7:11 PM

The X Games have changed the lineup and atmosphere of the Winter Olympics with the introduction of snowboarding, half-pipe and now slopestyle. But when a youth-lifestyle, punk-rock sport makes it to the Olympics, some things inevitably change.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/01/27/267213679/crazy-and-surreal-figure-skater-jason-browns-road-to-sochi
by

January 27, 2014 6:10 PM

Weeks after he turned 19, Jason Brown placed second at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships with an electrifying performance that became a YouTube sensation. "I'm so blown away and so shocked — beyond shocked. It's so surreal to me," he says.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/01/26/265703007/can-this-perfect-match-dance-their-way-to-gold
by Quinn Klinefelter

January 26, 2014 5:06 AM

WDET No U.S. skating team has ever won Olympic gold in ice dancing. Some experts wonder whether it even qualifies as a sport. But Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White, known for their blend of athletic power, speed and flair, are helping to dispel that notion.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/01/13/262164442/the-edge-npr-s-sochi-2014-winter-olympics-blog
by

January 23, 2014 6:47 PM

During the 17 days of the Olympics, we'll bring you the most interesting things we see and learn from the Sochi Games. We hope you tell us what you're seeing, too.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/01/23/265275397/a-baby-didnt-bump-these-moms-out-of-competition
by

January 23, 2014 6:39 PM

Not that long ago, female elite athletes thought they had to retire if they wanted to have kids. Now, they're competing throughout pregnancies and getting right back to training once they deliver. In some cases, they're even making the most out of sponsorship deals they might have once lost.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/2014/01/23/264901119/following-the-sochi-olympics-on-twitter
by Melody Kramer

January 23, 2014 6:04 PM

Have a favorite Olympic team? We've made it easy to follow all of the athletes on Twitter.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/theedge/
MEDAL COUNT

• United States
• 4
• 3
• 7
• Total: 14

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Medals

Competing Today

Country's Profile

Medals

Sport	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
	4	3	7	14
Alpine Skiing	0	0	1	1
Figure Skating	0	0	1	1
Freestyle Skiing	1	2	2	5
Luge	0	0	1	1
Skeleton	0	1	1	2
Snowboard	3	0	1	4

http://www.sochi2014.com/en/team-united-states-medals

Medal count

Rank	Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Germany	7	3	2	12
2	Switzerland	5	1	1	7
3	Russian Fed.	4	6	5	15
4	Canada	4	5	3	12
5	Netherlands	4	4	6	14
6	United States	4	3	7	14
7	Norway	4	3	6	13
8	China	3	2	0	5
9	Belarus	3	0	1	4
10	Poland	3	0	0	3
11	Austria	2	4	1	7
12	France	2	0	2	4
13	Sweden	1	5	2	8
14	Japan	1	2	1	4
15	Slovenia	1	1	2	4
16	Korea	1	1	1	3
17	Great Britain	1	0	1	2
18	Slovakia	1	0	0	1
19	Italy	0	2	3	5
20	Czech Republic	0	2	1	3
21	Finland	0	2	0	2
22	Latvia	0	1	2	3
23	Australia	0	1	1	2
24	Croatia	0	1	0	1
=25	Kazakhstan	0	0	1	1
=25	Ukraine	0	0	1	1
-	Albania	0	0	0	0
-	Andorra	0	0	0	0
-	Argentina	0	0	0	0
-	Armenia	0	0	0	0
-	Azerbaijan	0	0	0	0
-	Belgium	0	0	0	0
-	Bermuda	0	0	0	0
-	Bosnia and Herzegovina	0	0	0	0
-	Brazil	0	0	0	0
-	Bulgaria	0	0	0	0
-	Cayman Islands	0	0	0	0
-	Chile	0	0	0	0
-	Chinese Taipei	0	0	0	0
-	Cyprus	0	0	0	0
-	Denmark	0	0	0	0
-	Dominica	0	0	0	0
-	Estonia	0	0	0	0
-	Georgia	0	0	0	0
-	Greece	0	0	0	0
-	Hong Kong, CHN	0	0	0	0
-	Hungary	0	0	0	0
-	Iceland	0	0	0	0
-	Independent Olymp. participant	0	0	0	0
-	India	0	0	0	0
-	IR Iran	0	0	0	0
-	Ireland	0	0	0	0
-	Israel	0	0	0	0
-	Jamaica	0	0	0	0
-	Kyrgyzstan	0	0	0	0
-	Lebanon	0	0	0	0
-	Liechtenstein	0	0	0	0
-	Lithuania	0	0	0	0
-	Luxembourg	0	0	0	0
-	Malta	0	0	0	0
-	Mexico	0	0	0	0
-	Monaco	0	0	0	0
-	Mongolia	0	0	0	0
-	Montenegro	0	0	0	0
-	Morocco	0	0	0	0
-	Nepal	0	0	0	0
-	New Zealand	0	0	0	0
-	Pakistan	0	0	0	0
-	Paraguay	0	0	0	0
-	Peru	0	0	0	0
-	Philippines	0	0	0	0
-	Portugal	0	0	0	0
-	Rep. of Moldova	0	0	0	0
-	Romania	0	0	0	0
-	San Marino	0	0	0	0
-	Serbia	0	0	0	0
-	Spain	0	0	0	0
-	Tajikistan	0	0	0	0
-	Thailand	0	0	0	0
-	The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia	0	0	0	0
-	Timor-Leste	0	0	0	0
-	Togo	0	0	0	0
-	Tonga	0	0	0	0
-	Turkey	0	0	0	0
-	Uzbekistan	0	0	0	0
-	Venezuela	0	0	0	0
-	Virgin Isl, B	0	0	0	0
-	Virgin Isl, US	0	0	0	0
-	Zimbabwe	0	0	0	0

http://www.sochi2014.com/en/medal-standings