Things to take away from the Sochi Olympics' final medal count

With a strong closing push, Russia solidified its spot at the top of the final Sochi medal count. The host nation bagged 10 medals during the final three days of competition, including six of the gold variety.

Some notes from the final medal table:

*Team USA didn’t conquer the podium, but at least the U.S. can find consolation in bronze medals…all 12 of them. Sochi marked the third time in four Winter Games the U.S. led every country in that category.

[Photos: Sochi 2014 Closing Ceremony]

*The Netherlands won 24 medals despite sending only 41 athletes to Sochi. How? The Dutch hoarded 23 of the 36 medals awarded in speedskating, including eight golds.

*Norway, with a population of just 5 million, finished third overall with 26 total medals. On a per-capita medal rate, the cross-country skiing power ranked first with one medal for every 192,526 residents.

*Proving Vancouver was no fluke, Canada finished with 25 medals to come one shy of matching its 2010 Games total. The 10 gold medals were also the most of any Winter Games away from Canadian soil.

[Photos: Athletes partying after the Closing Ceremony]

And here is the significance of some of the medals won in Sochi.

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