The 2010 Winter Olympics came to a dramatic close Sunday in Vancouver, and for both the United States and host Canada it was a roaring success.
The Americans may have lost the gold-medal men’s hockey game to Canada in overtime. But the silver gave the United States 37 medals for these Olympics. That is an all-time record for any country in any Winter Games. The previous mark was set by Germany at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City (36). The United States had not won the overall medal count at the Winter Olympics since hosting the 1932 Games in Lake Placid.
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“I think the programs that we put in place after Nagano [in 1998] are having an impact on us today,” said Scott Blackmun, chief executive officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee. “We completely restructured the way that we approach our support of the national governing bodies in 2000 in that we started building customized partnerships based on their individual needs. I think what you’re seeing here now is in part a result of our efforts. But we need to continue providing the resources that the athletes need to be their best.”
The U.S. Alpine ski team smashed its previous mark of five medals at a single Olympics with eight, including gold from Lindsey Vonn (downhill) and Bode Miller (super combined) and two silvers from Julia Mancuso (super combined, downhill). Evan Lysacek became the first American male figure skater to earn gold in 22 years. Team USA also took gold in four-man bobsled for the first time in 62 years when Steve Holcomb piloted his sled to victory.
“It’s been so cool to watch the American flag go up on the podium so many times,” Vonn said. “All the stories that go behind all the success and all the hard work that everyone put in is really paying off. For me, as an athlete and as a spectator, it’s very inspiring.”
Canada, meanwhile, overcame a slow start to post 26 medals overall, including 14 golds. That, too, sets a new Olympic record for gold and is a huge boost to a country that had pledged to “Own the Podium” entering its own Winter Olympics. The Canadians finished third overall in the medal standings.
