Norway's secret to lead the Pyeongchang 2018 medal table 1:46
(CNN)
It's official.
Norway is really good at the Winter Olympics.
With a population of just over five million people, the European country has continued to punch above its weight at Beijing 2022, finishing well above the rest in the medal table.
Norway garnered the most gold medals, 16, and the most total number of medals, 37, of all the delegations competing this month.
"Norway finished top of the Beijing Winter Olympics medal table, just as Team Norway did four years ago at Pyeongchang 2018," said Simon Gleave, head of sports analytics at data provider Nielsen Gracenote.
"The Norwegian team won two medals short of their Olympic record total of 39 achieved in 2018, but broke the record for Olympic gold medals by winning 16. Norway won medals in nine of the 15 sports at Beijing 2022."
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The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) claimed the second most medals, 32, with Germany winning the second most golds, 12.
However, there is still a question mark over medals in the figure skating team event, which could affect the haul of six golds from the Russian Olympic Committee.
The medal ceremony has been postponed and the results could change depending on the outcome of an investigation into the failed doping test of 15-year-old figure skater Kamila Valieva.
Norway's haul of gold medals represents the largest amount ever won at a Winter Games and cements the country's dominance in winter sports.
CNN's Harry Enten attributed such success to two main factors: the weather and money.
Norway ranks in the bottom five in World Bank data for average year-round temperature at around 2 degrees Celsius and has money to service the often expensive resources needed to compete.
If winning is important, Norway's chief of mission Tore Oevreboe says it's not always the main focus.
"The main goal for us is to make the athletes have fun during the Games," he said earlier at the Games.
"We are very busy creating a good environment, a stable environment, a safe environment, a fun-filled environment, so that they can really enjoy life when they play sports at a high level."
Norway have dominated the medal table at Beijing 2022. (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Norway's most gold medalists, 11, came in biathlon and cross-country skiing events, but it also had success in sports such as speed skating and freestyle skiing.
There is hope that such success can inspire a new generation of Norwegians to try as many winter sports as possible.
"Many of the children have good opportunities to develop their potential in a variety of fields, and sports is one of them," added Oevreboe.
Top five countries in Beijing 2022
Norway: 16 gold, eight silver and 13 bronze, for a total of 37.
Germany: 12 gold, 10 silver and five bronze, for a total of 27.
China: nine gold, four silver and two bronze, for a total of 15.
United States: eight gold, 10 silver and seven bronze, for a total of 25.
Sweden: eight gold, five silver and five bronze, for a total of 18.
"And then they will fulfill their potential as humans and citizens."
Meanwhile, the Chinese team won nine golds and a total of 15 medals, achieving the best result in its history at a Winter Olympics and ranking above the United States.
Stellar performances by its new Olympic stars — from freeski sensation Eileen Gu to snowboarding prodigy Su Yiming — wowed fans in the stands and across the country, generating great pride.
The United States team achieved 8 golds, 10 silvers and 7 bronzes, for a total of 25 medals in the Games.
New Zealand and Australia as well as Belgium had Winter Games to remember.
"New Zealand and Australia had unprecedented Winter Olympic Games, winning three and four medals respectively," Gleave said.
"New Zealand's two gold medals were the country's first at a Winter Olympics. Australia's four medals were one more than the previous record of three, achieved at each of the last three Winter Games."
"Belgium equaled their record of two Winter Olympic medals previously achieved at St. Moritz 1948," added Gleave.
"The gold medal won by Bart Swings was the second for Belgium and the first since Micheline Lannoy and Pierre Baugniet were first in pairs figure skating 74 years ago."
The full medal table can be found here.
CNN's Wayne Sterling contributed reporting.
Beijing 2022 Olympics Norway
