Sochi 2014: what you missed over the weekend

Cold war

Kicking off with sanctioned fist fights, tensions on the rink were high as the USA and Russia ice hockey teams clashed sticks during a thrilling men's group-stage match. The United States defeated Russia 3-2 after a shoot-out in which TJ Oshie scored the deciding penalty, with President Vladimir Putin watching from the stands.

Lukewarm runnings

First they launched an online fundraising campaign to make it to Russia, then they lost their luggage and blades en route: it's been a long journey for the Jamaican bobsleigh team. But the crowds were rooting for that fairy-tale Olympic ending. Even Usian Bolt tweeted his support.

Alas, it wasn't to be. The two-man run of Marvin Dixon and Winston Watts came in last.

Extreme close-up

This accidental Sochi close-up selfie went viral with over 30,000 retweets. The woman who thought she was behind the lens has become a social media star after a Russian TV station caught her trying to take a photo on her point-and-shoot camera during the Russia v Slovenia men's hockey game.

Political point-scoring

Mitt Romney, who turned around the 2002 Salt Lake City games, couldn't resist another Olympics-related dig – this time condemning Putin for spending billions on the Sochi Winter Olympics, as part of an "unsavoury vanity project". He said: "You don't need to spend $50bn as Russia has or as China did [for the 2008 summer Games], to put on Olympic sport."

'Tache talk

Meanwhile, in women's snowboard cross, 20-year-old Eva Samkova from the Czech Republic dominated from start to finish to win gold. She celebrated in style – smiling, waving the Czech flag and even revealing a lucky moustache painted on her top lip. Team GB hopeful Zoe Gillings, who came ninth overall, needed to shave a little more off her time.

Police decide that gay is not OK

On to human rights and Vladimir Luxuria – a prominent Italian gay rights campaigner and former MP who was Europe's first openly transgender parliamentarian – was arrested this weekend after spectating at the Games while displaying a banner that read "Gay is OK" in Russian.

Miller makes good

American veteran and fifth-time Olympian Bode Miller took bronze in the men's Super G, making Sochi history and healing the pain of a disappointing downhill result earlier in the games. The result means he is the oldest Alpine skier ever to gain a podium position. But it was an emotional medal ceremony, as Miller remembered his late younger brother – a promising snowboarder – who died last year.

Twitter backlash as cold as ice

Over in short-speed skating, Elise Christie – one of Britain's brightest medal hopes – was controversially disqualified for the second time in three days. Adding insult to defeat, she subsequently became the latest athlete to suffer abuse on social media and has decided to delete her Twitter account: "I have had a few people threatening me," adding: "It's been a tough few days. I'm finding it quite hard."

Holland's hefty haul

And finally, the Dutch speed-skaters dominated in the women's 1,500 race. Jorien ter Mors smashed the Olympic record on Sunday by a half-second, and the team as a whole helped the Netherlands soar up to second in the medal standings. The Dutch have won 16 of the 24 medals in speedskating events so far at the Winter Games.