Germany’s 153 athletes in Vancouver and Whistler carry the weight of arguably the world’s most bittersweet national Olympic legacy.

TURIN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 15: Amy Sannes of Uni...

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These athletes represent a well-financed Olympic powerhouse that is backed by widespread public enthusiasm for sports, leading to an incredible 1,600 winter and summer medals since the modern Games began in Athens in 1896.

That total dwarfs the performance of Germany’s main European rivals and is second only to the U.S. total of 2,504. It is also higher than the combined medal count of the former Soviet Union (1,204), Russia (391) and the pre-1917 Russian empire (eight). More >