Germany top medal count at Turin 2006.

Germany’s athletes returned to a heroes welcome this week, following their record-breaking 29 medals at last month’s Winter Olympics. Thanks mainly to the success of the nation’s champion bobsleders and biathletes, Germany attained 11 gold medals in Turin, two more than USA and Austria (2nd and 3rd respectively).

Whilst the success of Germany’s bobsleders was expected by many, the success of Michael Greis and Sven Fischer in the Biathlon events was a surprise to the nation’s press – the unique sport of shooting and crosscountry skiing being traditionally dominated by the Scandinavians.

Around Europe some nation’s Olympic campaigns continue despite the games being officially over. In Austria, backlash is still being felt following the police raid on the Austrian headquarters in Turin – a new anti-doping law is being planned by the Austrian government for this year. And in Sweden the nation’s victorious men’s ice hockey team has been threatened with removal of the gold medal following a breach of the IOC Rules with regards to sponsorship. al