Sochi 2014: Underdogs, oldies and youngsters
Some athletes in Sochi have no more than an outsiders' chance to get near the podium...but they still savor their own special taste of Olympic glory.
Thai star violonist Vanessa Mae
Violinist Vanessa Mae is one of two skiers from Thailand taking part in the Winter Olympics. The 35-year-old former child prodigy was born in Singapore to Thai and Chinese parents, and grew up in London. She trained in Switzerland and competed under her father's surname, Vanakorn, before narrowly qualifying for Sochi.
Fuahea Semi - alias Bruno Banani
Fuahea Semi ofTonga was delighted to come in 32nd out of 39 in the men's luge event. He was found in a casting conducted by a German agency at the request of Tonga's winter-sports-crazy princess. His name was officially changed to Bruno Banani, which is also the name of a German underwear company - which then became the athlete's sponsor.
Jaqueline Mourao from Brazil
Mourao is the first biathlete from Brazil to compete in the sprint. She missed just one target on the shooting range but was sluggish on her skis, finishing in 77th place - among 84 starters. "I'm very proud to see my flag here," she said.
Shiva Keshavan from India
India's luger, Shiva Keshavan, came in 37th in his fourth Winter Games. However India's suspension for irregularities in voting at the national olympic committee, forced him and alpine skiers Himanshu Thakur and Nadeem Iqbal to compete in Sochi as independent athletes under the Olympic flag.
Prince Hubertus zu Hohenlohe
Prince Hubertus zu Hohenlohe, 55, is the oldest athlete at this year's Winter Olympic Games. These are the sixth Olympics for the Mexican skier, who said ahead of the competition that his goal was to be recognized as the best-dressed athlete at the Olympics.
Medal winning siblings
Justine (19) and Chloe (22) Dufour-Lapointe from Canada won gold and silver respectively in the women's freestyle skiing event. Their 25-year-old sister Maxine came in 12th. The sisters were the third trio of siblings to ever take part in one Winter Olympics competition.
The youngest participant
Gianina Ernst of Germany turned 15 on December 31st. She is competing in the women's ski jump, which debuts in Sochi.