SOCHI — Russia leapt to the top of the medals table Saturday with two more golds as the Sochi Olympics entered the final stretch, and the host nation said its first Winter Games had helped “break the ice” of scepticism toward it. Organizers were confident they had achieved what they, and President Vladimir Putin, had set out to do — project Russia as a modern, tolerant country that had thrown off the shackles of its Soviet past. The icing on the cake was home gold in the men's snowboard parallel slalom and men' biathlon relay, lifting Russia above Norway in the rankings with just three more titles to be decided Sunday, the final day. The jury is still out over whether the world agrees, but Putin is likely to be generally pleased that the Games went smoothly, without security scares despite Islamist militant threats and only isolated expressions of dissent to his rule. There have been problems, however. On Saturday, the Ukraine National Olympic Committee said cross-country skier Marina Lisogor had failed a doping test, a day after a German and Italian athlete were thrown out of Sochi for taking banned substances. Saturday provided another action-packed day in Sochi and amidst the snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus Mountains towering in the distance. One of the most popular medals of the day was a second Sochi gold for Russian snowboarder Vic Wild in the men's parallel slalom. In the women's event, Austrian Julia Dujmovits won. Wild has faced criticism in his native United States, having become a Russian citizen after marrying Alena Zavarzina, the women's giant slalom bronze medalist in Sochi, in 2011. Questions have also been raised about Russia's short track speed skater Viktor Ahn, who has won three gold medals in Sochi for his adopted country, having won three for his native South Korea in 2006 as Ahn Hyun-soo. On another day of glorious sunshine, Russia's second gold came in the men's biathlon relay. There was joy for Norway in the women's event, when “Iron Lady” Marit Bjoergen signed off with her third gold of the Games in the 30 km cross-country skiing, matching her haul in Vancouver. Compatriot Therese Johaug took silver and Kristin Stoermer Steira, also Norwegian, claimed bronze in a rare clean sweep. The flying Dutch men and women wrapped up the Sochi speed skating competition by cruising to both team pursuit titles. The biggest sporting event still to come is the men's ice hockey final at the futuristic Bolshoy Ice Dome Sunday, pitting reigning champion Canada against Sweden, which won the competition in Turin in 2006. — Reuters
