Canada sets Winter Games medal record

Canada reached rare heights Saturday, becoming only the third country to win 13 gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games.

A new mark for Winter Olympics will be set Sunday if Canada beats the United States for men's hockey gold.

An Olympics that had a stuttering start for the host nation gained yet more momentum Saturday on what was the first three-gold day in Canada's Winter Games history. The men's long-track team of Denny Morrison, Lucas Makowsky and Mathieu Giroux kicked it off by beating the United States at the Richmond Oval. Minutes later Jasey-Jay Anderson staged a dramatic comeback in the second leg of the Parallel Giant Slalom final to win gold.

And then Kevin Martin's rink beat Norway 6-3 in the men's curling final.

The only previous countries to win 13 gold in a Winter Games were the Soviet Union in 1976 and Norway in 2002.

MEDAL MANIA

Most gold medals won by a nation at the Olympic Winter Games

13
Canada - 2010 *
Norway - 2002
Soviet Union - 1976

12
Germany - 2002
Germany - 1998

11
Germany - 2006
Russia - 1994
Soviet Union - 1988
Soviet Union - 1964

10
Germany - 2010 *
USA - 2002
Norway - 1998
Norway - 1994
Germany - 1992
Soviet Union - 1980

* - current

The 13 gold medals is also a record for a host nation, breaking the previous mark of 10 set by the United States and Norway.

Canada seems certain to end the Games with 26 medals. Lyndon Rush's sled won a bronze Saturday in four-man bobsleigh. That's a record, two more than the 24 won in Turin four years ago.