Actually, Dowding may be on to something here. It's gotta be killin him that USA, China, France & GB are just kickin roooooooooooski butt in the medals...
Of course he'll say 'Russians not interested in medals....'
...and I'll put up pictures of all the soviet heads of state at mayday parades with medals plastered all over them ...
..and he'll say 'What Medals?'

If we sum up all medals won by former USSR - we'll beat the Chinese.
This is the first Olympics where we don't use Soviet heritage. As for me we are doing unexpectedly good.
As for Brezhnev, there was a joke. Say it in Brezhnev's voice:
"Comrades!... Western press spreads silly rumors that I am hungry for awards. I have to say it's not true. For example: last week I was awarded a greatest, I underline, greatest sign of merit from Papua New Guinea, a Big Goldten Ring in the Nose, and I refused." /*loud applauses turning into ovation*/