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Sochi closes Olympics in the glow of success

Sochi: Russia has delivered a "spectacular" Olympics as the Sochi Winter Games closed Sunday night with the whole country basking in athletic achievements and compliments from the Olympic chief, reports Xinhua.In a fitting end to

Bjoergen, 33, won a record sixth gold in the women's 30km mass start, equalling the record of Soviet speed skater Lidia Skoblikova and Russian cross country skier Lyubov Yegorova in taking six golds at Winter Olympics, the most by any woman.

Bjoerndalen became the greatest Winter Olympian in history by taking a record 13th medal. His eight winter Olympic golds tied compatriot Bjoern Daehlie's record.

Canada ranked third overall on its 10th gold from the 3-0 ice hockey victory over Sweden. It also swept two curling titles.

The US was fourth with eight golds from snow and one from ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White, followed by the Netherlands with eight golds, all from speed skaters who won 23 of the 36 medals on offer and taking a medal in all 12 events.

China finished 12th with nine medals including three golds, two golds less than in last Games, and remained the highest ranked Asian delegation, with South Korea placed 13th (3-3-2) and Japan 17th (1-4-3).

Apart from European and North American countries, only China, Japan, South Korea and Australia have struck gold in the winter Olympic history.

Zhang Hong claimed China's first ever Olympic speed skating gold in a feat hailed in the country as important as Liu Xiang's 110m hurdles victory in the 2004 Summer Olympics.

The other golds were from short track speed skaters Li Jianrou and Zhou Yang.