As of February 19, Chinese athletes had claimed six medals altogether—three gold, two silver and one bronze—at the 22nd Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Although the three gold medals did not come from the games that China had expected to win, the Chinese delegation still fell short in fields that it did have the chance to win, for instance, the men's and women's aerials. Zhao Yinggang, Deputy Secretary General of the Chinese Sports Delegation to Sochi, said he noticed the unexpected results and commented that the competition at Winter Olympics had always been intense and that accidents were common considering the high-speeds at which many of the events took place.

In the women's 500-meter short-track speed skating, when Fan Kexin, China's favorite to win, slipped at the semi-finals and lost the competition, Li Jianrou miraculously won China's first gold medal at the games after all other competitors crashed in the finals on February 13.

Following that, China embraced a big breakthrough. Zhang Hong claimed China's first ever Olympic 1,000-meter women's speed skating gold medal on the same day. China's defending champion, Zhou Yang, won the gold medal once more in the women's 1,500-meter short track speed skating on February 15.

The games were held on February 7-23. With 12 new events added, it was the largest winter Olympics in history. Athletes from across the world competed in a record high 98 events.

ON FORM: China's Li Jianrou skates during the women's 500-metre short track speed skating final on February 13 (GONG BING)

GRACEFUL: Li Zijun competes in the women's short program figure skating competition during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on February 19 (DARRON CUMMINGS)

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE: Zhang Hong competes in the women's 1,000-meter speed skating final at Sochi, Russia, on February 13. She went on to finish first and claim the gold medal (HARRY E. WALKER)

SHOW OF SUPPORT: Chinese spectators cheer on Chinese athletes in the auditorium at the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 15 (WANG YUGUO)

AIRBORNE: Xu Mengtao jumps during the women's freestyle skiing aerials final on February 14, during the 2014 Winter Olympics. Her performance earned her a silver medal (SERGEI GRITS)