Sochi 2014: Kate Hansen’s the dancing diva with Beyonce in her ears

Every athlete has their way of getting ready for competition, it’s just that American luge athlete Kate Hansen’s is a bit more eye catching than most.

She dons her headphones, puts on a Beyonce playlist and then starts dancing. Explaining the reason behind it, Hansen said simply the American singer “gets me fierce and I get stoked”. She said: “I’m completely in my own world and it doesn’t matter who’s staring. I’m still going to dance.”

There are some Olympians in Sochi that can lay claim to being millionaires through prize money and sponsorship. But Germany curling skip John Jahr is a millionaire with a twist. The 48‑year‑old has earned his cash as a major shareholder in two casinos, is involved in property development and investment management and controls part of a German publishing house. Asked for his motivation in Sochi, he says: “I am here for the love of curling, for the love of competition.”

Jacky Chamoun, a skier from Lebanon, was not expected to cause much of a stir in the slalom or giant slalom — after all, she is some way down the world rankings. But a photoshoot for an Austrian ski calendar three years ago has seen 22-year-old Chamoun hit the headlines. In fact, it’s more the behind‑the-scenes video of her naked that hasn’t gone down well in the Arab state. It forced her into a Facebook apology, while Lebanon’s sports minister has launched a full inquiry. To add a twist, it now emerges the snaps were taken by Mexican Hubertus von Hohenlohe, who, at 55, is competing in his sixth Games. He said: “The pictures are very elegant and serene.”

One of the booklets on offer in Sochi, by way of a guide, lists what to see and eat while out. Written by a Russian, arguably the highlight has to be this nugget: “Alcoholic products called wine on tap or house wine are best avoided as the consequences can be very serious.” You have been warned.

As waits go, it has been a long one. Japan’s women’s ice hockey team last scored at an Olympics at the Nagano Games on home soil in 1998. But after 16 years, the team once again found the target against Russia and, in celebration, lived up to their team nickname ‘Smile Japan’ (right). They duly made the most of the celebration — even if they did lose 2-1.

Can you put a price on Olympic gold? Well, apparently you can. For the British team in Sochi, it’s nil because there is no bonus from their governing body for a medal. Other nations are far more generous. If you’re from Kazakhstan, a gold will net you £150,000, while Latvia comes next on the money-earning list with £115,000 for the big prize. Australia is in the top five with £76,000 for each athlete on the top spot of the podium.