Tiny Norway Hauls in the Medals, Gets Zero Respect

The country that has won the third-most 2010 Olympic medals so far at 17—and the second highest number of golds—is one you probably haven’t given much thought to. But not only does Norway lay claim to these stats, it also has more Winter Games medals than any other nation, recently became the first country to win 100 golds, oh, and it has 300 medals overall—besting second place US by dozens, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Making all of these accomplishments even more notable is the fact that Norway, with its 4.7 million people, is drawing from a pool about the size of Detroit. Yet still people dismiss its accomplishments, assuming snow-packed Norway has it easy. Sure, its cities are near the great outdoors, and almost every town boasts a winter sports club. But “people think you can just go to the Olympic Games and take the medals home with you,” says one athlete. “It's a little harder than that.”