I think you’ll agree that this is a thrilling Winter Olympics. Here are some more athlete and country profiles:
Norway
The most successful country in Winter Olympic history, Norway has accumulated over the years a whopping 303 Winter Olympic medals, 107 of them gold.
Norway has several advantages, not least its snowy climate. But it’s more than that. Thanks to its oil wealth, Norway is one of the richest countries in the world (per capita) and enjoys a work/life balance which allows plenty of time (combined with high disposable income) for outdoor sports. From an early age, Norwegians are outdoors skiing and skating. It’s deeply embedded in their culture.
Norway’s number one star athlete is Bjorn Daehlie, who competes in cross country skiing, and biathlon (which combines cross country skiing with sharpshooting). He has won 8 gold medals in his career, more than any other Winter Olympics athlete in history.
Norway is tipped to win the most gold medals and the highest overall medal tally at Sochi 2014, a double-feat it last achieved in 1968.
The three giants of Sochi
The three countries fielding the most athletes at Sochi 2014 are the United States (230), Russia (225), and Canada (220).
Curling
Which country has enjoyed the most success in this sport in the history of the Winter Olympics? Canada! At the Sochi Ice Cube Curling Centre on Monday, Jennifer Jones led her Canadian team-mates to a first round victory against China, a strong contender in this sport. Also tipped for gold is Sweden.
Dominic Londesborough is a personal trainer in London