There is less and less time left before the opening of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. Despite the unsuccessful performance of the Russian national team at the previous Olympics in Vancouver, where it failed to enter even the top ten, the Russian team is considered one of the favorites. First, because the reasons for the failure were analyzed, the necessary conclusions were drawn and measures were taken. Secondly, the factor of native walls is very significant. And what other teams are among the undisputed favorites of the upcoming Olympic Games?
Vancouver Triumphants
At the previous Olympics, the native walls helped the Canadians a lot. They have won as many as 14 gold medals. It seems that Canadians themselves did not expect such success from their favorites. Moreover, at the 2006 Winter Olympics, which took place in Turin, Italy, the envoys of Canada were able to take only 7 medals of the highest standard. There is no doubt that the athletes from the country of the maple leaf will try to prove that the Vancouver triumph was by no means an accident. Therefore, they, of course, should be ranked among the main favorites.
Canadians are traditionally very strong in hockey. They have good chances of success in alpine skiing, figure skating and some other disciplines, including those that were relatively recently included in the Olympic program.
Stability is a sign of skill
Teams from the USA, Germany, Norway consistently achieve awards at the highest level competitions. And if you also take into account that at the same Olympics in Vancouver, the teams of Germany and especially the United States, significantly ahead of the Canadians in the total number of won medals (USA - 37, Germany - 30, Canada - 26), and the Norwegians then took the 4th team place then there is no doubt that these three teams are clear favorites.
The US national team is very strong in alpine skiing, figure skating, hockey. The Germans and Norwegians are consistently among the strongest biathletes.
Of course, other potential favorites should not be discounted as well. For example, many sets of awards are played in speed skating, where athletes from the Netherlands always perform at a very high level, and in short track speed skating, where athletes from South Korea shine. It was thanks to the short track that the Koreans took the 5th team place in Vancouver, having won 6 medals of the highest standard. And in general, as you know, there are no weak participants at the Olympic Games! Therefore, if the Russian team wants to return to their previous positions, they will have to try very hard.
