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Samantha Hayes ReportingAfter 16 days of competition, the tone of the Olympics has evolved from anticipation to reflection. The US team won 25 medals, second only to Germany. Nine of those medals are gold.
There was so much expected of this U.S. team heading into the 2006 winter Olympics after record 34 medals in Salt Lake City, now that the games are coming to a close, there are mixed emotions about the end result.
They put it all on the line to ski swifter, jump higher, push stronger and expect more.
Jim Scheer, CEO, USOC: "This has been an incredible performance. I think it's been partly our fault that this team has been viewed less than that because the high expectations we all had."
Partly because of the expectation the athletes place on themselves. Sasha Cohen won silver, a tremendous accomplishment, but of course, she wanted gold.
Sasha Cohen, Silver Medalist, Figure Skating: "It's an amazing competition to be a part of."
And the experience itself defines the Olympics for so many athletes. The world may remember the medals, but the competitors have realized something more--a dream.
Toby Dawson, Bronze Medalist, Moguls: "It's lived up to everything I expected it to. Loved the crowds, loved the people, loved the town."
Angela Ruggerio, Bronze Medalist, Hockey: "I'm personally very proud of my hockey team."
Julia Mancuso, Gold Medalist, Slalom: "My experience here couldn't have been better. They did an awesome job preparing it. All my family was here to support me and to be a part of an incredible group of athletes. I couldn't ask for anything more."
It is probably fitting that the host country won the last medal. It was gold for Giorgio de Cena in the final cross country ski event, giving Italy total of 11 medals.
