2010 Winter Olympics medal table in 2002). The United States placed first in total medals—its second time doing so in a Winter Games—and set a new record for most medals won by a NOC at a single Winter Olympics, with 37 (the previous record was 36, established by Germany in 2002). Athletes from Slovakia and Belarus won the first Winter Olympic gold medals for their nations. Cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen from Norway won five medals (three gold, one silver, one bronze), more than any other athlete. Chinese short track speed skater Wang Meng tied Bjørgen for the lead in gold medals, with three. The medal
Greece at the 2014 Winter Paralympics debut at the 2002 Winter Paralympics. They have participated in every Summer Paralympics since, and missed the Winter Paralympics only once, in 2006. This made Sochi their third appearance at a Winter Paralympics. While Greece have won over 90 medals at Summer Paralympics, they have never won one in Winter Paralympics competition. The 2014 Winter Paralympics were held from 7–16 March 2014, in Sochi, Russia; 45 countries and 547 athletes took part in the multi-sport event. Efthymios Kalaras was the only athlete sent by Greece to Sochi. He was chosen as the Greek flag-bearer for the parade of nations during