The winning Russian team celebrates on the podium during the flower ceremony for the men’s 5,000 metres short track speed skating final relay race at the Iceberg Skating Palace in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games February 21, 2014. REUTERS
Russia leapt to the top of the medals table on Saturday with two more golds as the Sochi Olympics entered the final stretch, and the host nation said its first Winter Games had helped “break the ice” of skepticism towards it.