Every Russian medalist awarded with Mercedes-Benz from government

SOCHI, Russia, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- All 44 Russian Olympic medalists were given keys to a new Mercedes-Benz by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev during a ceremony on Tuesday.

The host country of the 2014 Sochi Games dominated the medal standings with 33 medals -- 13 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze. The athletes were given three different models based on which medal they received.

The Winter Olympians received cars decorated with the Russian Olympic team logo -- even the athletes too young to drive like 15-year-old figure skater Julia Lipnitskaia.

"I was a bit shocked at the car I was given," biathlete Anton Shipulin told R Sport. "Of course I knew what kind of model it would be, but I didn't totally believe it," he said. Shipulin was also given a car after winning bronze in Vancouver four years ago.

In addition to the cars, the medalists also were awarded cash. Gold medalists are supposed to get $120,000; silver medalists $76,000; and bronze medalists $52,000.

[R Sport] [NBC OlympicTalk]