So the Vancouver Olympics have come to a close.  I for one was glued to the TV most nights watching America win the most medals at a winter Olympics ever.

The Americans head south of the border after a Winter Olympics in which the USA won a record 37 medals, including 9 gold.

These were the “homeâ€� games for the U.S – without the home pressure.

For Canada, the home pressure was enormous, especially on the men’s hockey team, which needed Sidney Crosby’s overtime goal to edge the U.S. 3-2 for the gold medal yesterday afternoon.

The Canadians entered the Games with an “Own the Podium” pledge but they finished third in medals with 26 (Germany had 30). The hosts did lead with 14 gold, so they stood atop the medal stand most often.

So my question is – who won the medal count?  If you look at US media – the 37 medals means the US won the games.  But if you look on the BBC, the US comes third behind Canada and Germany on the basis of Gold medals won.

Total medal count (US) can’t be right because that makes bronze, silver and gold all equal in value. Gold medal count can’t be right either because that means that bronze and silver are the same as no medal at all. The only fair weight is to give them weights. Gold = 3, Silver = 2, Bronze = 1. Using this method, I give you the following weighted medal tally:

USA 70
GER 63
CAN 61

As a patriotic half Yank I am pleased to see the US come out on top (because for some reason NZ seems to perform poorly at the Winter Olympics – even through we have some of the world’s best terrain and because my wife would disown me if I supported Canada over my adopted country).

Hamish McDonald

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