With no flag or anthem, Russians end Olympics with gold

They weren't allowed to fly their flag or play their anthem. That didn't mean there were no celebrations for the Russians in Pyeongchang.

A fan of the Olympic athletes from Russia waves a flag before the men's gold medal hockey game against Germany at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, in Gangneung, South Korea. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A drought-breaking hockey victory on Sunday and a women's figure skating title provided a prestige boost for a team of athletes who arrived at the Winter Games amid the humiliation of International Olympic Committee sanctions for a doping scheme in Sochi four years earlier.

"You know it was only 7 a.m. in Russia when we start play, but I think now everybody's up and they're celebrating. Today will be a holiday in Russia," forward Ilya Kovalchuk said after helping the Russians edge Germany 4-3 in overtime to win the Olympic gold medal.

The "Olympic Athletes from Russia" — the name they were designated as part of the IOC's sanctions — also collected six silver medals and nine bronze.

That ranked the OAR team sixth in terms of total medals but an unfamiliar 13th in terms of gold medals won, the measure for success used by most Russians.

Olympic athletes from Russia celebrate with their coach Oleg Znarok after winning the men's gold medal hockey game against Germany, 4-3, in overtime at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, in Gangneung, South Korea. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Team Russia won 13 gold at the Winter Games it hosted in Sochi in 2014, but later lost two for doping.

For those watching in Russia, Pyeongchang was an Olympics marked by legal battles rather than sports.

On top of that, they had to wait two weeks for their first gold medal.

The champion of the games for many Russians was the 15-year-old figure skater Alina Zagitova, a graceful competitor with incredible jumping ability, and a powerful symbol of a post-Sochi generation.

Olympic athlete from Russia Vasily Koshechkin celebrates with fans after winning the men's gold medal hockey game against Germany, 4-3, in overtime at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, in Gangneung, South Korea. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Of the 168 Russians invited to compete in Pyeongchang — the third largest team — most hadn't been in Sochi. That was because of a mix of retirements, doping bans and a vetting process which ruled out dozens of athletes including some gold-medal contenders because an IOC commission said it couldn't be sure they weren't involved in past doping schemes.

The opening ceremony was preceded by legal challenges as 45 Russian athletes appealed against the IOC's refusal to invite them. Hours before the opening ceremony, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favor of the IOC. At the ceremony, Russia marched in gray coats behind the Olympic flag, which was held by an Olympic volunteer, not an athlete.

Significantly, the first Russian to compete at the Winter Games since the Sochi doping scandals later failed a doping test. After days of denials and allegations of drink-spiking, mixed doubles curler Alexander Krushelnitsky was disqualified and had to surrender his bronze medal, which was later awarded to Norway.

The Olympic, German and Canadian flags are unfurled during the medals ceremony after the men's gold medal hockey game between the Olympic athletes from Russia and Germany at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, in Gangneung, South Korea. Olympic athletes from Russia won 4-3. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The lawyers were called in again for bobsledder Nadezhda Sergeeva, who accepted a disqualification Saturday after testing positive for a banned heart medication.

The out-of-competition focus overshadowed some surprising medal achievements. A team of young cross-country skiers won three silver and four bronze medals, almost half the Russian total, but attracted scrutiny because four skiers are coached by a man once suspended over doping.

Russia's medal hopes were reduced in part because the Russian Olympic Committee opted not to fill more than 40 open slots with other athletes when its preferred choices didn't pass IOC vetting. That left the Russians unable to compete in relays in sports like biathlon and speedskating because it couldn't field enough athletes.

At the closing ceremony, Russia again marched without its flag, likely for the last time. The IOC had agreed to reinstate Russia if no more drug tests from Pyeongchang come back positive.

Despite the lack of logos and flags, it seemed everyone knew who the "Olympic Athletes from Russia" were.

Olympic athletes from Russia celebrate after winning the men's gold medal hockey game against Germany, 4-3, in overtime at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, in Gangneung, South Korea. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

After weeks of chafing under IOC rules that barred them from criticizing the doping sanctions or wearing Team Russia uniforms, the hockey players ended the Olympics on a note of defiance. As the Olympic anthem played for their medal ceremony, the players joined hundreds of spectators in belting out the Russian anthem.

It was "freedom of speech," defenseman Bogdan Kiselevich explained.

"We sang because we are Russian people and when you win, your country's anthem plays," he said. "It was with heart and soul."

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez denied corruption allegations against his wife but said he will consider resigning after the launch Wednesday of a judicial investigation into accusations by a right-wing legal platform that she used her position to influence business deals.

Sánchez said in a letter posted on his X account that while the allegations against his wife Begoña Gómez are false, he is canceling his public agenda until Monday when he will announce whether he will continue or step down.

“I need to stop and reflect,” Sánchez wrote. “I must answer the question if it is worth it to continue, given the mud pit the right and far right have made out of our politics, if I must continue at the helm of the government or renounce that highest of honors.”

Sánchez, 52, has been Spain’s prime minister since 2018. He was able to form a new left-wing coalition government in November to start another four-year term. He is one of Europe’s longest serving Socialist leaders.

Earlier Wednesday, a Spanish judge agreed to probe allegations of corruption made by a private group with a history of filing lawsuits mainly for right-wing causes. The court based in Madrid will consider the allegations and proceed with the investigation or toss it out.

“Begoña will defend her honor and collaborate with the justice system in every way that is required to clarify that these facts that appear scandalous are in fact nonexistent,” Sánchez said.

Gómez, 49, does not hold public office and maintains a low political profile.

Manos Limpias, or “Clean Hands,” accuses Gómez of allegedly having used her position to influence business deals. The court did not provide further information and said that the probe was under seal.

Manos Limpias describes itself as a union, but its main activity is a platform pursuing legal cases. Many have been linked to right-wing causes. It acts as the “popular prosecution,” a peculiarity of Spanish law that allows individuals or entities to take part in certain criminal cases even when they haven’t been directly harmed by the accused.

Justice Minister Félix Bolaños called the new allegations “false."

The possibility of a governmental crisis comes just weeks before important regional elections in Catalonia followed by European elections in June.

Sánchez accused on-line news sites politically aligned with the leading opposition conservative Popular Party and the far right Vox party of spreading what he called “spurious” allegations that he said led to the judicial probe.

Last month, Spain’s government watchdog for conflict of interests tossed out a complaint made by the Popular Party against Sánchez whereby the opposition party claimed that Gómez had allegedly influenced her husband in a decision related to an airline.

Spain’s leader said that he was moved in part to reflect on his future due to his love for his wife.

“This attack is without precedent, it is so serious and coarse that I need to stop and reflect with my wife,” he said. “Most of the time we forget that politicians are people. And I do not blush to say it, but I am a man who is deeply in love with my wife, who is living with the feeling of impotence while being pelted with mud.”

“To summarize, this is an operation to harass me by land, sea and air to try and make me give up politics through a personal attack on my wife,” Sánchez wrote.

FILE - Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez poses for a portrait after an interview with The Associated Press at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, June 27, 2022. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says that he will consider resigning after what he calls “spurious” corruption allegations against his wife led to a judicial investigation being opened on April 24, 2024. Sánchez said in a letter posted on his X account that while the allegations against his wife Begoña Gómez are false, he is canceling his public agenda until Monday when he announce whether he will continue or step down. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)

FILE - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his wife Begona Gomez arrive at 10 Downing Street in London, Dec. 3, 2019. A Spanish judge agreed Wednesday, April 24, 2024 to probe accusations of corruption made against the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez by a private group with a history of filing lawsuits for right-wing causes. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)