On Olympic Wednesday this week, we journey to British Columbia in Canada, where the Winter Olympiad was a unique one for us: we worked to help the region prepare for these games as early as Fall 2005, and then we got to attend in person. What a thrill to see over 2,500 athletes from 82 different nations compete in 86 medal events across 15 various athletic disciplines. It was a beautiful moment in our sports history!

The United States (37), Germany (30), and the host nation (26) topped the medal tables, with Norway (23) pretty close behind. Overall, ten countries reached double digits in medal count, including China and South Korea. We do not think it was a coincidence that both Asian nations soon hereafter were awarded Winter Olympics of their own to host for the world in 2018 and 2022. The Olympic movement truly is global!

Most Outstanding Male Athlete: Petter Northug, Norway

The only male athletes to win four medals, Norwegian cross-country skier Petter Northug won gold medals in the individual 50km event and the team sprint relay event. He also won a silver in the 4x10km relay event while taking bronze in the individual sprint event. It’s pretty crazy to see podium finishes in such disparate events as the 50km and the sprint, for sure. These Scandinavian skiers are something else!

Most Outstanding Female Athlete: Marit Bjørgen, Norway

After winning a single silver medal in each of the prior two Winter Games, Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen won five medals in Vancouver to top all athletes: gold in the individual sprint, the 15km skiathlon, and the 4x5km relay events—plus silver in the individual 30km and bronze in the 10km. Her range of performance is impressive, and she would go on to win eight more medals in the next eight years.

Most Outstanding Male Team: American Nordic Combined

Winning four of a possible seven medals in the Nordic Combined events, the United States men took one gold and three silvers in Vancouver: Bill Demong won the Large Hill/10km individual event, while Johnny Spillane won silver; he also won silver in the Normal Hill/10km individual event. The two athletes combined with their teammates to take the silver in team event, too. These are not events Americans “do”!

Most Outstanding Female Team: Chinese Short-Track Speed Skating

The Chinese women swept all four gold medals in the discipline of short-track speed skating: Wang Meng won both the 500m and 1,000m individual events, while Zhou Yang won the 1,500m individual race. They combined to help their nation win the 3,000m relay contest as well. While no one else won an individual medal, the clean sweep of all golds in the sport helped clinch this award for China, rather easily, in truth.