These last few weeks of the Winter Olympics were very special in sports and the world at large. We all witnessed something we only see once every four years. The 2014 Winter Olympics have come to an end in Sochi, Russia, and the country proved to be quite capable as a host.

Five nations have posted a medal count of 20 or more; it’s all the usual contenders. The Netherlands are in fifth place with 24; Canada just edged into fourth place with 25 medals. Norway scooped up third place in medal counts with 26 medals. Team U.S.A. came in second with 28 medals. And the host, the Russian Federation, had the most medals; 33 at the end of the games.  But, who is counting? The Russian Federation even earned the most gold medals; if you are going to host, you might as well go big.  After that, Norway came in second, Canada was third; in fourth place for number of gold medals was the U.S.A. It isn’t the number of medals that countries earn, it is the athletes that really draw audiences.

Some notable storylines include, Shaun White’s inability to medal in snowboarding; The Canadian Women’s Hockey team producing a stunning comeback to take gold against the US; the departure of numerous Ukranian athletes due to violent protests in that country; and the escalating drama that typically surrounding Mens Hockey. The hockey playoffs got so intense that President Obama and the Canadian Prime Minister jokingly bet a case of beer over the final Hockey results. Canada won, but there has been no media press as to whether or not Obama purchased that 24 pack. It was a riveting, safe, and unique Winter Olympics; this reporter can not remember Russian cops singing to French techno music during an opening ceremony in the history of opening ceremonies…anywhere. These stories will no doubt stay with us longer than the medal counts do.