For Russia, the 13th day of the Olympic Games in Vancouver lived up to its unlucky reputation. With no medals won on Wednesday, the country plunged to the 10th place in the medal count, and the crushing defeat from the Canadian ice hockey team ended Russia's hope of winning the Olympic medal it most desires.
The Black Wednesday of Russian ice hockey
It was the middle of the night in Moscow when Russia's ice-hockey players were swept off the ice by a rampant Canada, but that didn't stop the fans back home staying up until the early hours to cheer on their side.
But after Russia failed to show anything like the form that won them the 2008 and 2009 world championships - losing 7-3 in the quarterfinal clash with the hosts - many will be wishing they hadn't.
"Nightmare in Vancouver," The Red Machine Runs into a Maple Tree," "Down and Out," were just some of the headlines on Thursday morning, as reports came in that many Russian fans who had planned to stay at the Games until the February 28 closing ceremony were leaving the host city in disgust.
Swedish skiers win men's relay
Swedish cross country skiers brought their country fourth gold of the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver after winning in men's 4x10 km Relay Classic.
Daniel Richardsson, Anders Soedergren, Marcus Hellner and Johan Olsson finished the distance in the Whistler Olympic Park in 1 hour 45 minutes and 05.4 seconds.
Norway's Martin Johnsrud Sundby, Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset, Lars Berger and Petter Northug took the silver and Czech skiers Martin Jaks, Lukas Bauer, Jiri Magal and Martin Koukal took the bronze medals.
The Russian team finished eighth.
Czech skater Sablikova takes second gold
Czech speed skater Martina Sablikov won gold in ladies' 5,000 m, finishing the distance at the Richmond Olympic Oval in 6 minutes 50.91 seconds.
Germany's Stephanie Beckert finished 0.48 seconds behind the Czech skater to win the silver, while Canada's Clara Hughes took the bronze in 6 minutes 55.73 seconds.
This is the third medal for Sablikova at the current Olympics as she previously won in 3,000 m and took the bronze in 1,500 m.
Australia's Lydia Lassila takes gold in ladies' aerials
Lydia Lassila of Australia won second gold medal for her country in ladies' aerials. China's Nina Li and Xinxin Guo took the silver and the bronze.
Canadians sweep first positions in women's bobsleigh podium
Canada's women bobsledders took the gold and silver medals to bring the Olympic hosts' total medal haul to 15.
Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse took the gold with an overall result of 3 minutes and 32.28 seconds, while their fellow teammates Helen Upperton and Shelley-Ann Brown grabbed the silver with 0.85 seconds behind them.
The United States bobsledders Erin Pac and Elana Meyers won the bronze for their country at the Whistler Sliding Center with the result of 3 minutes and 33.40 seconds.
Russia's Anastasia Skulkina and Yelena Doronina finished ninth, 3.65 seconds behind the leaders. Olga Fyodorova and Yulia Trofimova were 19th (+9.12).
Fog postpones medal event in ladies' giant slalom
The second leg of the ladies' giant slalom was postponed after 18 athletes failed to finish in the first run amid thick fog, snow and rain.
American Lindsey Vonn, one of the frontrunners after winning the ladies' downhill, fell in the first run and broke her little finger. Her participation in the ladies' slalom is now in doubt.
Team gold and other medal count at 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics
Country Gold Silver Bronze Overall
1. Germany 7, 10, 7 (24)
2. U.S. 7, 9, 12 (28)
3. Canada 7, 6, 2 (15)
4. Norway 6, 6, 6 (18)
5. Switzerland 6, 0, 2 (8)
6. South Korea 5, 4, 1 (10)
7. Austria 4, 3, 3 (10)
8. Sweden 4, 2, 2 (8)
9. China 4, 2, 2
10. Russia 3, 4, 6 (13).
MOSCOW, February 25 (RIA Novosti)
