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The winter Olympics concluded yesterday, and what a successful showing it was for the United States.  Team USA dazzled and amazed us for the past two and a half weeks, posting the most medals in Winter Olympic history. 

The US finished the games with 37 medals topping the German squad who had 30 and the host Canadians with 26.  For the first time in 78 years the United States has won the medal count at the Winter Olympics.  Not since Lake Placid in 1932 have the Americans owned the podium.  The 37 American medals also broke Germany’s previous mark of 36. 

Since 1932 America has been a non-contender at the winter games culminating in 1988 in Calgary where they finished ninth in the medal count with a whopping six medals.  Team USA has come a long way in the past 22 years. 

Over the last 75 years, the games were dominated by three countries.  Only Germany, the Soviet Union and Norway have won the medal count at the Winter Olympics…until now. 

From start to finish the 2010 Vancouver Olympics belonged to the United States.  From the half pipe to the short track, the United States dominated the competition and left fans wanting more. 

Over the past 17 days big names like Shaun White and Apollo Anton Ohno returned to recapture the magic from Torino.  Familiar names like Lindsey Vonn, Shani Davis and Bode Miller became household figures and perhaps most importantly of all, new faces like Johnny Spillane, Julia Mancuso, Evan Lysacek, Billy Demong and “Night Train” burst onto the scene captivating the country and the sports world. 

For me, watching these games was something I will never forget.  The athletes in these games are a different breed.  There is just something about the way they go about their business that makes them so very special in the American eye.  Their uniqueness is unmatched by competitors in other sports and that is what made these Olympics so special. 

From the start, these games had all the makings to be one for the ages.  On the first full day of action Apollo Ohno skated to an Olympic silver medal in the men’s 1500m while J.R. Celski finished with a surprising bronze.  Afterwards a Korean skater called out Ohno saying he interfered causing two other Koreans to fall.  The games were already getting intense, and this was only the first day.

Ohno collected two more medals during the games, capturing another bronze and a silver.  The most decorated Winter Olympian in US History finished his illustrious Olympic career with eight medals.   

The man who single-handedly made his sport popular went out with a bronze in what more than likely will be his final Olympic race.  The most special Olympian of the all bid farewell in dramatic come from behind fashion to secure a bronze for his team in the 5000m relay. 

As the first week kicked off the biggest question surrounding the Olympic team was the shin of Lindsey Vonn.  But with a few extra days rest due to the inclement weather, that shin proved to be just fine as Vonn took gold in the women’s downhill with teammate Julia Mancuso taking silver.  Vonn was overcome with emotion after winning gold. 

“To be able to stand at the finish line with a gold medal is so awesome,” said a teary eyed Vonn. 

Later that same day the kid from Chicago Shani Davis skated to another Olympic gold in the men’s 1000m, becoming the first skater in Olympic history to win gold in back to back Olympic games in the event.  Teammate Chad Hedrick skated to bronze. 

That evening on top of Cypress Mountain all eyes were on Shaun White as he looked to defend his half pipe gold.  His first run proved to be all he needed, posting a score of 46.8 on what some would call a conservative run.  No other boarder could get anywhere close to that.  Before his final victory lap the gold was all his. 

Now at this point, most people would say just board through, no reason to risk getting injured…right?  Not if your in this sport and especially not if your Shaun White. 

After his ‘conservative’ first run White had this to say. 

“I was sweating it a little.”  That’s snowboard talk for I was saving the best for last. 

An exuberant White stood atop the mountain with his coaches celebrating his second consecutive Olympic gold.  Announcers had to apologize for the language.  Who can blame them, White was getting pumped up for the best run of his life while celebrating a gold.  “Stomp the shit out of that thing,” coach Bud Kenne exclaimed.    

 "It's athletes like Shaun White that make you think the impossible is possible."

Off went White down in the hill in a run I will never forget.  To say he was near perfect would be an understatement.  As the pros say, ‘he put it down’.  He ended it with the granddaddy of them.  “The double McTwist 1260”, invented by White and landed by White.  48.4, not bad for a victory lap. 

“I knew I had it in me, but the Olympics is pretty heavy,” White said afterwards.

His competitors agree there is no stopping this man.  

“It’s impossible to beat Shaun unless he falls,” said second place finisher Peetu Piiroinen of Finland.

Fellow American Scotty Lago took home the bronze while Columbus’s own Louie Vito finished fifth. 

Snowboard analyst Pat Parnell said it perfectly after White’s historic run.  “It’s athletes like Shaun White that make you think the impossible is possible.” 

White’s run capped off the most successful day in US Winter Olympic history.  The Americans finished the day with three golds, a silver and two bronze.  And they were just getting warmed up. 

A day later the women were at it in the half pipe.  Once again they amazed the American crowd, proving in fact they are a different breed and just as crazy as the men. 

“Got my flannel.  It’s like summer around here,” said Hannah Teter just before the event.  I guess when you’re a snowboarder from Vermont; it might feel a little like summer.  Teter went on to silver and fellow American Kelly Clark captured bronze.  Clark known for singing out loud could be seen shuffling through her I-Pod just before her run.  I guess whatever works.

For me, the most satisfying victory of the Olympics came courtesy of American figure skater Evan Lysacek who shocked the world by beating the World Champion and the ‘cocky’ favorite from Russia Yevgeny Plushenko. 

Lysacek became the first American to win since 1988 and ended the Russians Olympic dominance over the last 22 years.  Needless to say, Plushenko was a little upset. 

“I was positive that I won,” Plushenko said.  “But I suppose Evan needs the medal more than I do.  Maybe it’s because I already have one.” 

Well, now Evan has one too and America couldn’t be prouder. 

After going 0 for 5 in Torino, three-time Olympian Bode Miller nearly quit the sport, but instead decided to come back for one more Olympic run, to get the gold medal that had eluded him for all these years. 

After a bronze in the Downhill and a silver in the Super G, Miller’s dreams came true when he struck gold in the Super-Combined.  With five Olympic medals Miller is one of the most decorated Winter Olympians in US history. 

For years Miller has been sort of an enigma.  The talent has always been there, but he has never been able to put it together.  In Vancouver in 2010 Miller ‘put it down’. 

“I never know what to make of Bode Miller because he is crazy.  But, when he’s on he’s the perfect skier.  I’m sure he wanted an Olympic gold medal, so I’m happy for him,” said Austrian skier Benjamin Raich.    

 "I never know what to make of Bode Miller because he's crazy.  But, when he's on he's the perfect skier."  

If the Winter Olympians are a different breed, Bode Miller is the epitome of it.

“I was on fumes,” Miller said afterward.  “I had to get fully fired up to take maximum risk.” 

Needless to say he felt ‘awesome’ about his gold medal. 

Awesome is a word that was heard a lot around Vancouver during the Winter Games.  Some of the other popular word choices and phrases include ‘sweet’, ‘savvy’, ‘saucy’, and everyone’s favorite ‘put it down’. 

Perhaps the best story from these Olympic games came in the Nordic Combined. 

This had long been an event where America was non-existent.  In its 86-year existence, America had never won a medal.  That drought ended when American Johnny Spillane earned silver in the individual normal hill competition.  

The team event followed and the Americans didn’t disappoint, finishing with a silver of their own and doing so in impressive fashion.

For a group of Americans as close-knit as these guys, winning a medal was truly something special.  Led by five time Olympian Todd Lodwick and four timers Spillane and Billy Demong, the US posted impressive marks in the jumping portion of the event, placing them in second heading to the cross-country portion of the competition.  For this ‘band of brothers’, a snowy day in Whistler proved to be the proper setting for an historic Olympic silver medal. 

After a fourth place finish in Salt Lake City in 2002, anything short of a medal would have been a disappointment. 

“This is redemption,” Lodwick said after the race.  “It hasn’t sunken in yet, what we’ve accomplished.” 

The final event of the Nordic Combined was the Individual Large Hill.  Once again America took center stage as Billy Demong took gold and Johnny Spillane captured his third silver of the games, capping off one of the most impressive showings of any winter Olympian.   

In perhaps the craziest sport of them all, Jaret “Speedy” Peterson busted out some moves of his own in the men’s aerials.  What can best be described as high diving on skis, Peterson landed ‘The Hurricane’, propelling him to a silver medal. 

The site once again was Cypress Mountain and going into his final jump, Peterson needed something big to reach the podium.  For someone who has been through more than anybody at these games, nobody deserved this medal more than ‘Speedy’. 

After landing ‘The Hurricane’, he knew he would be on the podium.  The most difficult jump in the sport was landed by Peterson with ease and the silver was his. 

“I’m so happy.  This is the best day of my life,” Peterson told reporters.  “This is my medal for everything that I’ve overcome.  I’m ecstatic.”  

The American four-man bobsled team led by pilot Steve Holcomb had one goal entering the games, win a gold medal.  Mission accomplished. 

The “Night Train” sled led by Holcomb, a driver who nearly went blind two years ago, flew to victory Saturday night ending a 62-year drought for the United States in sliding’s marquee race.

Entering the final run with an almost insurmountable lead of .45 seconds, Holcomb knew the gold was his. 

 "The moment belonged to 'The Night Train' and Steve Holcomb as they sled to gold."  

“One more run.  Let’s do it,” he said. 

The moment belonged to the “Night Train” and Steve Holcomb as they sled to Olympic gold. 

Afterwards the celebration was on and ‘The Hokie Dance’ was introduced to millions of Americans across the nation. 

“This will take a while to sink in,” Holcomb said.  “You work so hard and when you finally get there it’s like, ‘Well, now what?  I don’t know what to do. ‘We’ve worked so hard and gone through so much in the last four years.  To end on a high note like this is huge.  It’s overwhelming.”

On the podium a few hours later, Holcomb fought back tears as the national anthem played.  Apparently for Holcomb it was all sinking in. 

Despite an overtime loss to Canada in the gold medal hockey game, a silver medal is certainly an accomplishment for a United States team few expected to be there.  The classics 3-2 overtime thriller was a great to close out the Vancouver Games. 

When it was all said and done and the closing ceremonies ended last night in Vancouver, the 2010 Olympic Winter games went down as the most successful in United States history and perhaps Olympic history. 

But, as I said these athletes are unlike the athletes we are accustomed to seeing on an everyday basis.  They are unique in their own crazy way.  They are a refreshing break from most athletes of today.  Completely uninhabited by what is going on around them, they keep fans on the edge of their seats.  They compete strictly for the love of their sport and the love of their fans.   

With the next Winter Olympics in Russia four years away, most of these athletes will fade into the sunset as the more popular sports take over.  But, these athletes and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics will never be forgotten.  Congratulations to all the 2010 United States Olympians on a job well done.    

Tags: apolo anton ohno, benjamin raich, billy demong, bode miller, bud kenne, calgary, chad hedrick, evan lysacek, hannah teter, hokie dance, johnny spillane, jr celski, julia mancuso, kelly clark, lake placid, lindsey vonn, night train, nordic combined, pat parnell, salt lake city, shani davis, shaun white, steve holcomb, todd lodwick, torino, yevgeny plushenko