Wow! What an Olympics.

Team USA entered Sunday’s men’s hockey gold-medal game and closing ceremonies knowing that it will pass Germany’s all-time Olympic Winter Games record of 36 medals.

Before Vancouver, the most medals the U.S. had won at a non-U.S.-hosted Winter Olympics was 25, at Turin in 2006.

As we bid farewell to Vancouver on Sunday night, I thought I’d compile a list of some of the moments I’ll remember most:

Most Courageous Performance

Joannie Rochette of Canada, who won the bronze medal in ladies figure skating just a few days after her mother died of a heart attack. Rochette delivered two truly inspiring performances in a time of great sorrow.

Most Tragic Day

My heart goes out to the family of the men’s singles luger from the nation of Georgia who was killed during a training run at the Whistler Sliding Center. An athlete losing his life at the Olympics is something you never expect to see, and I pray I never do again.

Good Guys Finish

First Award

To U.S. figure skating coach Frank Carroll, 71, who guided Evan Lysacek to the men’s gold medal in an upset victory over Russian Evgeni Plushenko. Carroll has coached some of the world’s best figure skaters in his career — most notably, Michelle Kwan — but in his 10th Olympics, Carroll finally got his gold.

Biggest Bust

The Russian figure skating team. No medals in pairs for the first time since 1960. No men’s gold medalist for the first time since 1988. It was sent reeling big-time when the top Canadian and U.S. teams won gold and silver in ice dance, while the Russians took the bronze with a dreadfully dull free dance. It’s time for Russia, which has produced so many great champions over the years, to get with the new points-based scoring system. As the North Americans proved, it’s not about politics anymore.

Most Exciting Event

I Saw in Person

Since the men’s hockey gold-medal game hasn’t happened yet, I’d say snowboard cross. In just its second Olympics, I never thought I’d enjoy watching snowboarders racing down a winding, snow-packed hill and flying through the air as much as I did. Iron River’s Nick Baumgartner, who wiped out in the quarterfinals, was a huge ambassador in the men’s event: He volunteered to wear a “helmet cam” that allowed fans watching on the big screen from the grandstand to “experience” his runs.

Eight Is Great Award

I’m not interested in debating whether short-track speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno’s unprecedented eight medals in three Olympics compares to long-track speedskater Eric Heiden’s five golds in 1980 in Lake Placid, N.Y. Different events, and both accomplishments are grand.

What a Day

A few hours after receiving his medal Thursday after becoming the first American to win the Nordic combined gold medal, Billy Demong proposed to his girlfriend. She accepted. Then his peers chose him to be the U.S. flag bearer for Sunday night’s closing ceremonies.

Most Exciting Race I Didn’t See in Person

Lindsey Vonn lived up to the hype and won the women’s downhill on a bruised shin in a 1-2 finish with American teammate Julia Mancuso in the opening week of the Games.

Flying Tomato Special

Props to Shaun White for winning his second gold medal in men’s half-pipe. I kept thinking, though, how great it would have been if Danny Davis of Highland was here. Davis was days away from being named to the U.S. Olympic team when he was injured in an all-terrain vehicle accident last month. He would have challenged White for gold.

Election Honor

Angela Ruggiero of Harper Woods won her fourth Olympic medal when the U.S. women’s hockey team won silver after losing to Canada in the gold-medal final. But her biggest contribution to the Olympic movement might be on the horizon: Ruggiero, who played hockey at Harvard, was elected by her peers to represent all Olympic athletes on the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission. The commission represents athletes within the Olympic movement, and its duty is to uphold the rights and obligations of the athletes. The appointment will be for eight years and allows Ruggiero to become a full-fledged member of the IOC.

Best Souvenir

The red mittens rock.

Double Thumbs-Up Award

To Igor Shpilband and Marina Zoueva, Russian-born coaches and Michigan residents who guided ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, and Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the U.S. to gold and silver medals. The coaches, who work at the Arctic Edge Arena in Canton, are two of the hardest-working and creative people I’ve met in 14 years of covering figure skating.

Way to Go Award

After a stumbling start, glad to see our neighbors to the North piling up medals. Twice before, Canada has hosted the Games, and twice it had failed to win gold. Not in Vancouver. Saturday afternoon, it had a Games-leading 10.

Best Meal

The beef chili and salmon chowder in the media workroom at the Whistler Sliding Center. I’m a big fan of fine dining, but nothing beats comfort food on a cold afternoon. Yum.

Worst Meal

The pre packaged veggie sandwich with runny sliced cheese (soggy tomato) at the Pacific Coliseum before the men’s short program in figure skating. A close second would be the hot dog from a “Mr. Tube Steak” vending cart. It was good, but not the best on an empty stomach.

Funniest Line

Charlie White, slap happy after 2 hours of sleep after winning the silver medal in ice dance with Meryl Davis, on their plans to sign with IMG over other agencies: “Whoever will make me a movie star.”

Grantland Rice Award

To Ken Holland, GM of the Red Wings and adviser to Steve Yzerman and Canada’s men’s Olympic hockey team, for contributing to the Free Press with his insightful daily postcards from Vancouver. Best part? He never missed a deadline.

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