WINTER GAMES IN THE BOOKS

After three great weeks, athletes from across the globe return home as the 2018 Winter Olympics have come to a end. In terms of pure medals, Norway was the big winner. They led all countries in total medals with 39 and were tied with Germany for most golds with 14. The USA finished in fourth overall with 23 medals, nine of them being golds. The biggest headline for the US has to be the Women’s hockey team finally breaking through and ending Canada’s 20 year golden streak. America also faired very well in snowboarding, taking gold in both men’s and women’s halfpipe and men’s and women’s slopestlye. Americans also took silver in both men’s and women’s big air, a new event at this Olympics. Russia was another big story this games. Following the doping scandal, the majority of their athletes weren’t allowed to compete. The athletes that were deemed clean were allowed to compete, but not under their flag. The “Olympic Athletes of Russia” competed, but not for country. This attempt at punishment by the IOC seemed to fall flat on its face as the OAR still brought home 17 medals, good for seventh overall. A performance like this didn’t punish the Russians at all, it just showed that they can still compete and compete well while the whole country is being investigated for doping. Taking the flag away means nothing, everyone knows where these athletes are from and who they are representing. Who knows where this investigation with be come 2020 and the Summer Games, but I hope that the IOC takes a stronger stand against Russia and doping in general. The Olympics are supposed to be the purest level of competition in the world and there is no place for doping within them.