2014 Olympics Medal Count: United States Holds Slim Lead Over Russia, Canada Heading Into Final Weekend Of Sochi Winter Games

Ted Ligety Skiier USA — USA star Ted Ligety (C) celebrates his gold medal in Men's Giant Slalom with silver medalist Steve Missillier (L), and third-placed Alexis Pinturault, both representing France. Reuters

With Day 14 of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia about to expire, medal races between the usual suspects continue to grab the attention of fans everywhere. Athletes for the host nation have done a nice job in competing for their country, earning 26 medals through the first two weeks, but because heavy hitters in Norway, the Netherlands and the United States continue to rack up achievements, the Russians find themselves in the difficult battle of claiming top honor on their home turf. Just one medal shy of the United States – who hold a total of 27 decorations – Russia remains in the thick of things while the Netherlands (22 medals), Norway (22) and surging Canada (24) all hope to up their number ahead of the February 23 end date.

Thanks to a gorgeous sweep of the slopestyle skiing last week and additional medal-clinching performances by giant slalom winner Tim Ligety and bobsleigh competitors Jamie Greubel and Aja Evans, the United States sit atop the current standings with two competition days remaining at the 2014 Winter Games. Earning 9 Gold medals, 7 Silver's and eleven Bronze, the USA continues to find success at the Winter Olympics because of the dynamic athletes donning the red, white and blue. Though two-time gold medalist Shaun White was not able to capture another gold in the halfpipe event, the trio of Joss Chirstensen, Gus Kenworthy and Nicholas Goepper claimed all three slots in the aforementioned men's slopestyle skiing event, giving the USA additional medals coming down the final stretch of the games.

Athletes from Canada have been helping their beloved country move up the medal tracking leaderboard as well and after a magnificent victory in the Men’s Curling Gold Medal final, Team Canada and Canadian supporters everywhere are collectively pleased with where they stand heading into the final weekend of the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. Disposing of Great Britain 9-3 in just eight ends, the Canadian men’s curling team earned the largest victory margin in the history of the Winter Games finals, something that skip Brad Jacobs was not expecting heading into the championship.

“I was really expecting to have to make my last one, or to be in a nail-biter,” Jacobs said after the match. “You never expect to go out there and blow a team out. Curling is a Canadian sport and it goes to show we are still at the top. It’s always hard to wear the Maple Leaf. We are expected, Canada, to at least medal and if not win a gold. It’s tough to carry that weight on your shoulders. Now we are gold-medal winners. And I’m relieved.”

Canada Men's Curling — Team Canada celebrates after earning a 9-3 victory in the gold medal match of Olympic Curling against Great Britain. Reuters

Tremendous opportunities still exist for other international teams to return home to their native countries with hardware while helping their respective sides climb the medal count leaderboard. Team USA will battle Finland in the Bronze medal match of men’s hockey on Saturday, February 22 while Canada and Sweden battle for the Gold on Sunday, February 23. The men’s slalom will also take place on the 22^nd while Women’s 30km Freestyle, Women’s Parallel Slalom (Small and Big Run), men’s 4x7.5km Biathlon Relay and women’s speedskating will also enter medal rounds over the weekend.