Andy Soule, a U.S. Army veteran, lost both his legs to a bomb in Afghanistan in 2005. Four years ago, he won America's first medal — Olympic or Paralympic — in the biathlon event. David Gilkey/NPR hide caption
The Edge This is NPR's blog highlighting the best stories of the Sochi Winter Olympics.
The Edge
Journey To Olympic Glory
Former Marine Josh Sweeney lost both of his legs to a bomb in Afghanistan in 2009. He's competing with the U.S. Men's Sled Hockey team at the Paralympics in Sochi. David Gilkey/NPR hide caption
A view of the Olympic Park on Feb. 6, a day before the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Pyrotechnics explode over dancers formed into the Olympic rings during the closing ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics, on Sunday. David J. Phillip/AP hide caption
Russia RUS-1 bobsled team, with Alexander Zubkov, Alexey Negodaylo, Dmitry Trunenkov, and Alexey Voevoda, jump onto the medal stand after winning gold on Sunday. On the last day of the Sochi Games, Russia had already secured the top spot in the overall medal count. Dita Alangkara/AP hide caption
The team from Russia RUS-1, with Alexander Zubkov, Alexey Negodaylo, Dmitry Trunenkov, and Alexey Voevoda, celebrate after winning gold during the men's four-man bobsled competition final at the 2014 Winter Olympics, on Sunday. Natacha Pisarenko/AP hide caption
Finland's Teemu Selanne celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal during the men's ice hockey bronze-medal game U.S. vs. Finland at the Bolshoy Ice Dome during the Sochi Winter Olympics on Saturday. Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
American Bode Miller inspired a question about terminal velocity, resistance, and friction with his skiing in Sochi. It's one of many technical questions that came up during the Winter Olympics. Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Speedskaters from the U.S., Brian Hansen (from left), Jonathan Kuck and Joey Mantia, compete in the team pursuit speedskating race for seventh place at the Adler Arena Skating Center on Saturday. Patrick Semansky/AP hide caption
Germany's Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle has left her country's Olympic contingent — and Sochi — after testing positive for a banned stimulant. She's seen here in the biathlon earlier this week; Sachenbacher-Stehle finished fourth. Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
From left to right, America's J.R. Celski, Jordan Malone, Christopher Creveling and Eduardo Alvarez celebrate taking silver in the men's short track 5,000-meter relay at the Iceberg Skating Palace in the Sochi Winter Olympics Friday. Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Canada's Jamie Benn (right) and Corey Perry celebrate a goal against America and goalie Jonathan Quick during the men's hockey semifinals in Sochi Friday. Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Russia's Adelina Sotnikova (center) celebrates after receiving her gold medal in women's figure skating Thursday. South Korea's Yuna Kim (left) took silver, and Italy's Carolina Kostner won bronze. Antonin Thuillier/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
She's a winner: Team USA's Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates after taking gold in the women's slalom at the Sochi Games. Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
The stakes are high. @CommandSign hide caption
Ukrainian skier Bogdana Matsotska. Alexander Roslyakov/AP hide caption
The Canadian team celebrates Marie-Philip Poulin's winning overtime goal as American players try to recover from a game that seemed to be within their grasp in Sochi Thursday. Doug Pensinger/Getty Images hide caption
The Canadian women beat the U.S. in an early round match in Sochi on Feb. 12. The two teams face each other again today for the gold medal. Matt Slocum/AP hide caption
Yuna Kim, of South Korea, won gold in Vancouver. She's leading the field after Wednesday's short program. Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
U.S. silver medalists Elana Meyers, left, and Lauryn Williams pose after their final run in the women's bobsled Wednesday. Williams becomes only the second American in history to win medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympics. Alex Livesey/Getty Images hide caption
Russian fans who gathered in Sochi's Olympic Park react with dismay as they watch a broadcast of the ice hockey match between Russia and Finland. Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters/Landov hide caption