The secret of Norway

Getty Images Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway compete during the men's giant slalom.

Vancouver, British Columbia-at the end of these Olympic Games, will be deducted the Norwegians have what, is probably one of the best performances in the modern history of the sport.

The only problem is that no one seems outside Norway to take you seriously.

Norway's Olympic team has won so far, enough third overall and a gold medal behind the leading 17 medals in Vancouver to place it. The country Tuesday, including silver and bronze or Kjeitil Jansrud and Aksel Svindal grabbed three medals in the men's giant slalom. The haul is expected to continue in this last week.

Norway has won more games medals than any other nation. Last week it was the first country to 100 win Olympic gold medals and Tuesday it hit milestone 300 Medal (the United States is second on the all-time list with dozens less.)

What makes it hard to fathom its performance, however, is that Norway only 4.7 million people, of has to choose. It is as though third finished to limit the athlete pool for people living the American team in Vancouver in metropolitan Detroit.

To a country less than Norway find the medals table you have down after Latvia, to travel, is tied for 18 with two medals.

After winning a bronze Tuesday, Mr Svindal said expectations for the victory in Norway a little out of control can be in the Nordic sports. "People think you can just go to the Olympic Games and take home the medals,", he said. "It's a bit harder than that."

However most people unaware Norway winter dominance. Those can be quick to dismiss it with stereotypes. The Norwegians on skis, born you will say because the whole country is a huge snow cover.

It does not help that Norwegians don't like your own horns blowing. Instead are thousands, around the world to Vancouver traveled along slopes hammers so loud that nobody the announcer can declare nor hear a more medal finish for Norway cowbells.

At home, Norway newspapers this month are the current Olympic medal rankings- and the past ones touting. "Let's this newspaper [Aftenposten] see Norway 297 to 244 for the United States says it 's" Peggy Hager, University of Wisconsin-Madison said Norwegian lecturer this week in an interview from your Office, where was Norwegian sites review.

Note that Norway only in 1905 gained independence from Sweden - and before that was - dominated by Denmark woman Hager says, "This is a new country with a lot of flag-waving nationalism."

Can some special pressure on Norwegian athletes. Some of his compatriots who back had become unrealistic expectations home said on Tuesday for his third Medal of the games where Mr. Svindal was challenge, at Whistler. "Now, success is almost a given, so if we do not good, then people get disappointed," said Anette Frølich from Oslo that cheer Whistler was Mr Svindal.

Norwegian owe their success of many factors. It's Sports Club a winter in almost every town and city and a Government-funded program, the talented athletes in their early teens identifies and fosters development.

Its cities are relatively close to the wild and it is a culture, the children to the play on outdoor also promotes the coldest days. Neighbor Sweden, continued on the other hand its major population centers of the wilderness and the Sweden are more inclined to play indoor sports in the winter, such as tennis, hockey, rather than bundling and skiing.

At the Olympic Norway that bombed by its usual standards - finishing sixth in medals and 13th in gold. Hand-wringing columnists followed by political leaders below sport.

Vancouver began their way out of conflicts Favorites slides, misfiring, and crashing just how badly, Norwegian gold medal. Four days in the play, Norway had not won only gold and his entire medal table ranked down of South Korea. "This is very sad," Rae Reidunn Starkeium, a fan of Norway, traveled Norway, as you said saw that fail to win a medal 12.5 km biathlon in Tuesday's.

"Was a fiasco, which called the Norwegian press them," says Halvor Lea, a spokesman for the Norwegian team.

The Norwegian obsession with the games is almost unbridled. If biathlon in Norway broadcast during prime time to the 1.75 million households last night, in vote, according to Mr Lea. "It's a lot of pressure on us," he says.

After the first four days, Norway roared back win medals of each color in the sports, who cares it the most - cross-country skiing, biathlon, ski jumping and ski Alpin.

That you didn't brag or something. After crossing the finish line Tuesday, not Mr Jansrud, his fist hit his chest or pump or mug for the international TV feed - instead took he applaud two deep arcs to his countrymen.

Write toMatthew Futterman matthew.futterman@wsj.com and Kevin Helliker at the kevin.helliker@wsj.com

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