TORINO, Italy (Sports Network) -- If you believe in the theory that everyone who participates in the Olympics is a winner in some respect, there's a bridge I can sell you in New York City.

Fact is, there are winners and there are losers.

At the Olympics there were plenty of both.

WINNERS

Joey Cheek (USA, Speedskating) - He won two medals -- gold in the 500 meters and silver in the 1,000. But that's not why he's at the top of this list. The 26-year-old donated his medal winnings to the charity organization Right To Play, which benefits children in disadvantaged areas around the world. The USOC responded by saying they would match his donation, and also gave him the honor of carrying the United States flag in the closing ceremony.

Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (Norway, Biathlon) - Talk about pressure. He entered the 2006 Olympics off an amazing performance four years ago in Salt Lake City, winning all four biathlon events. He didn't come close to matching that this year, taking a pair of silver medals and one bronze, but clearly had the right attitude after it was all said and done, "It is really dangerous to say that you are not satisfied if you don't get a gold medal. It is more important to focus on the races, and I've done good races -- just not good enough." Well said.

Michaela Dorfmeister (Austria, Alpine Skiing) - In her last Olympics, the 32- year-old veteran not only won one gold medal but captured two. Her victory in the downhill was sensational, then to back it up by beating the remarkable Janica Kostelic in the super-G was even more thrilling. "So I go home from these Olympics with two medals and they are both gold," she said after the super-G. "I think it's better to go out on top." Queen of the mountain, so to speak.

Katerina Neumannova (Czech Republic, Cross Country) - Another wonderful story about a veteran athlete who could never win the big one, then finally does. The 33-year-old outsprinted a pair of younger skiers to the finish line to win the grueling 30-kilometer freestyle race. It was her first Olympic gold medal on the heels of four silvers, one bronze and numerous other top-10s. "For me it is like a dream and I do not want to wake up." Enjoy the moment, it's not a dream.

Snowboard Cross (New sport!) - Combine the tactics of short-track speedskating with the turns of a bobsled course and the jumps of moguls skiing and you have the basis for a great new Olympic sport. Most additions to the Olympic program are a complete waste of time, but this sport has staying power. Four racers on a narrow curve-filled track with jumps. It's fast, it's fun and it's dangerous. It has spills -- Lindsey Jacobellis -- and thrills -- Seth Wescott. What more can you ask for?

LOSERS

Pierre-Emmanuel Dalcin (France, Alpine Skiing) - After taking the lead 17 racers into the men's super-G event, a driving snowstorm forced officials into a re-start to which he said, "There are many races like this and there is no reason to stop it." Let's see, skiing blind. That might be a good reason. Upon the re-start, he missed a gate and was disqualified. After reaching the finish area, he turned and raised his middle finger toward the slope. The International Ski Federation responded with its own salute -- a fine of 5,000 Swiss Franc. Nice going, Pierre.

Bode Miller (USA, Alpine Skiing) - Never mind that the defending overall World Cup champion failed to medal in any of the five events he started, or failed to finish three. Or that coming off the comments before the Games of alcohol use while skiing that he was reportedly seen out late the night before one of his morning events. No, the outspoken one reaches this list for the comment he made following his disqualification from the combined event, which he had been leading after the downhill portion of the event and straddled a gate in the first slalom run. "At least I don't have to go all the way down to Torino tomorrow," he scoffed, referring to the lengthy trip required to reach the medal plaza from the mountains. Great Olympic spirit.

Lindsey Jacobellis (USA, Snowboard Cross) - The gold was all hers. No one was within shouting distance of the clear leader in the women's snowboard cross and there were just two easy jumps to the finish line. Olympic glory, more Visa commercials. Then she tried to get cute. A little flash. A little hot dog. Then, a big fall and gold turned to silver. Trying for a little showmanship, she grabbed the nose of her snowboard and fell, allowing a Swiss rider from way behind to finish first. "The silver medal at the Olympics is still a silver medal," she said in her defense. And a commercial for Oscar Mayer hot dogs is still a commercial.

North American Hockey Teams (USA & Canada) - Canada invented the sport, eh? And won a gold medal four years ago, eh? The United States won the silver medal four years ago. Seems like a lot longer. The Americans won just one game in this tournament -- beating lowly Kazakhstan; tied once -- against lowly Latvia; and lost their other four games. The Canadians went three games without a goal. Three games! One time against Switzerland, no less. What is the hockey world coming to? Makes you think there was something to those rumors about a conspiracy to have both the U.S. and Canada play for the gold medal four years ago in Salt Lake City.

Ice Dancing (Old Sport?) - What really is the difference between ice dancing and pairs figure skating? Does it matter? There must be different moves, spins and the like, but it is essentially the same, isn't it? There are still two people on the ice. That seems like a pair. Save us all and just combine the two or eliminate one.

It seems there were a lot more American losers than from any other country and that's leaving out the quarrel between speedskaters Chad Hedrick and Shani Davis.

There's also the brazen American alpine team that won a whopping two medals. Talk about your Sports Illustrated cover jinx.

But, of course, there were even more winners too numerous to mention. Italian speedskater Enrico Fabris thrilled the home crowd with three medals, while Canadian speedskater Cindy Klassen won five. German biathlete Michael Greis won three gold medals and Kristina Smigun of tiny Estonia took a pair of cross country golds, while Croatia's Janica Kostelic became the most decorated Winter Olympic alpine woman skier.

Anyway, it's been a fun-filled 16 days and passion definitely did live here, but it's time to go home. Grazie, Torino. Good luck, Vancouver. See you in four years.