1. The preliminary Olympic ice hockey match between the U.S. and Russia felt like the finals in Sochi, with the game boiling down to one intense shootout. Team USA USA ultimately won the game,* 3-2, against the host country's team.


2. Erin Hamlin ended the United States' deep freeze in the singles luge, capturing the bronze medal in the women’s event and breaking a 50-year streak, a timeframe where the U.S. did not win one medal in the event.


3. Noelle Pikus-Pace is a mom first, an Olympic skeleton competitor second. Nevertheless, the 31-year-old from Utah, who said she was retiring after a disappointing showing in Vancouver, won an unexpected silver in Sochi, and she credited her husband, sister and two children for helping her get to the podium.


4. Snowboarders Sage Kotsenburg and Jamie Anderson made the U.S. proud when the two swept the men's and women's inaugural snowboard slopestyle competition. Both have become the sweethearts of the Olympics, as well, winning the hearts of Olympians with their charm and smile.



*
5. Alex Deibold didn't even qualify for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Instead he was a part of Team USA's support staff for the snowboard team, waxing and prepping boards of the competitors. This year, 27-year-old Deibold not only represented Team USA as a competitor in the games, but he won bronze in the men's snowboardcross event.