The Paralympic Games ended in Sochi, Sunday with a spectacular closing ceremony. 
Momoko Dekijima of Japan competes in the women's cross-country 5-kilometer free standing event on Sunday, March 16, on Day Nine of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. The Paralympics are being held in the same venues as the recently completed Winter Olympic Games. 
Chris Klebl of Canada competes to win the gold medal in the men's cross-country 10-kilometer sitting event on March 16. 
Beth Requist and Tatyana McFadden of the United States compete in the women's cross-country 5-kilometer sitting event. 
Valiantsina Shyts of Belarus reacts after crossing the finish line in the women's cross-country 5-kilometer sitting event on March 16. 
Brittany Hudak of Canada competes in the women's cross-country 5-kilometer free standing event. 
Melissa Perrine of Australia crashes in the women's giant slalom visually impaired event on March 16. 
Gold medalist Elena Remizova of Russia collapses after crossing the finish line in the women's cross-country 5-kilometer free visually impaired event. 
Vladimir Udaltcov of Russia competes in the men's cross country 10-kilometer free visually impaired event on March 16. 
Canadian players react during the medal ceremony after the ice sledge hockey gold medal game between the Russian Federation and the United States on Saturday, March 15. The United States won, 1-0. 
Nikko Landeros of the U.S. celebrates after winning the ice sledge hockey gold medal game against the Russian Federation on March 15. 
Joshua Sweeney of the United States scores the game-winning goal past Vladimir Kamantcev of Russia during the ice sledge hockey gold medal game between the United States and Russia on March 15. 
Aleksandr Akhmadulin of Russia crashes in the men's giant slalom standing during day eight of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. 
Vincent Gauthier-Manuel of France celebrates winning the gold medal in the giant slalom standing during day eight of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. 
Tino Uhlig of Germany leads the field at the start of the 4 x 2.5-kilometer mixed relay cross-country on day eight of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. 
Hiraku Misawa of Japan competes in the men's giant slalom standing at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. 
Loyd-Remi Pallander Solberg of Norway, left, collides with Adam Dixon of Canada during the ice sledge hockey bronze medal match at Shayba Arena during the Paralympic Winter Games on Saturday, March 15, in Sochi, Russia. 
Ivan Frantsev of Russia competes in the men's giant slalom visually impaired on March 15. 
Grigory Murygin, left, Vladislav Lekomtcev, Roman Petushkov and Rushan Minnegulov of Russia celebrate after winning the 4 x 2.5-kilometer open relay cross-country skiing event on March 15. 
Aleksandr Akhmadulin of Russia crashes in the men's giant slalom standing on March 15. 
Eirik Bye of Norway and guide Kristian Myhre Hellerud compete in the mixed 4 x 2.5-kilometer relay cross-country skiing event on March 15. 
Andrea Eskau of Germany competes in the women's 12.5-kilometer sitting biathlon on Friday, March 14. 
French snowboarder Patrice Barattero competes on March 14. 
Alena Kaufman of Russia competes in the women's biathlon on March 14. 
Russian skier Inga Medvedeva competes on March 14. 
Lidziya Hrafeyeva of Belarus competes in the women's sitting biathlon on March 14. 
Kenji Natsume of Japan competes in the men's sitting slalom event on March 14. 
Goalie Man-Gyun Yu and defender Young-Jae Cho of South Korea stop Sweden from scoring in a hockey game March 14. 
Kozo Kubo of Japan crosses the finish line in the men's biathlon on March 14. 
A snowboarder with a lower limb prosthesis competes on March 14. 
Mykhaylo Tkachenko of Ukraine competes in the 12.5-kilometer sitting biathlon on March 14. 
Russia's men's hockey team celebrates after winning a semifinal match against Norway on Thursday, March 13. 
Aleksandr Akhmadulin of Russia crashes in the men's slalom on March 13. 
Haitao Du of China competes in the men's cross-country sprint on Wednesday, March 12. 
Cross-country skiers train on March 12. 
Zdenek Safranek of the Czech Republic shoots for goal during an ice sledge hockey game against South Korea on March 12. 
Russian cross-country skier Vladimir Kononov races during the semifinal of the 1-kilometer sprint on March 12. 
Dmytro Shulga of Ukraine competes in the men's visually impaired biathlon Tuesday, March 11. 
Audun Bakke of Norway, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring Norway's second goal March 11 during their sledge hockey game against Sweden. 
American skier Stephanie Jallen races to win the bronze medal in the super-G on Monday, March 10. 
American skier Laurie Stephens competes in the women's super-G on March 10. 
Graeme Murray of Canada and Emil Kirstistuen of Norway vie for the puck during an ice sledge hockey game on Sunday, March 9. 
Akira Kano is on his way to gold in the men's super-G on March 9. 
Bob McPherson of Great Britain competes in a mixed curling match versus Sweden on March 9. 
Adam Dixon competes during the ice sledge hockey game between Canada and Norway on March 9. 
Tyler Carron of the United States, left, collides with Jong Ho-jang of South Korea during a ice sledge hockey game on March 9. 
Austrian skier Markus Salcher won gold in the super-G on March 9. 
Austrian skier Claudia Loesch races in the women's downhill on Saturday, March 8. 
Japanese skier Takeshi Suzuki competes in the men's downhill on March 8. 
Joseph Jimmy, right, steadies the chair of Lino Meghan of the United States during a curling match against South Korea on March 8. 
- Sochi Paralympics ended Sunday
- Russia finished top of medal table with 30 golds
- President Putin attended ceremony
- Ukraine flagbearer made political statement
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(CNN) -- A spectacular closing ceremony brought an end to the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Games Sunday.
In front of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the ceremony embraced the theme of "Reaching the Impossible."
Some 547 athletes from 45 countries competed for the 72 gold medals on offer -- with host nation Russia coming out on top.
Russia claimed 30 gold medals and 80 in total, way ahead of Germany which finished in second place.
On the day where a referendum was held in Crimea, Ukraine flagbearer, biathlete and cross-country skier Lyudmila Pavlenko entered the stadium wearing a top emblazoned with the word "Peace".
But her actions did not overshadow a ceremony which involved 462 performers and 8,000 volunteers.
Symbolic protest at Sochi's Paralympics 
Ukraine paralympians compete in Sochi 
Paralympian disqualified over disability International Paralympic Commitee president Philip Craven told spectators at the stadium: "The Paralympic Spirit has united and infected us all. Proud Paralympians -- your inspirational athletic performances have redefined the boundaries of possibility.
"You have shown the world that absolutely anything is possible and that life is about amazing capabilities and not perceived deficiencies.
"With record numbers of highly enthusiastic spectators supporting you all, you have shown what real grit and determination looks like. Through record TV audiences and media coverage, you have opened up the eyes of the world to what the human spirit can achieve."
Russia's hero of the Games was Roman Petushkov who won six gold medals -- the most by any individual at a single Paralympics.
The 36-year-old, who lost both his legs in a car accident eight years ago, made his Paralympic debut in Vancouver where he won two medals.
After winning five world titles in the Sweden last year, he responded to the pressure magnificently with six golds.
Competing in the seated division of cross country and biathlon, he won the 7.5kilometer, 12km and 15km biathlon as well as the cross country 1km, 15km and the 4x2.5km relay.
One of the other outstanding stories of the Games was the achievement of Brian McKeever, who won his 10th Paralympic title.
The 34-year-old visually impaired cross-country skier, competing in his fourth Paralympics, won three gold medals in Sochi and could yet defend his titles at Korea 2018.
Germany's Anna Schaffelhuber was a five-time gold medal winner at Sochi following a series of sublime sit-ski displays.
Schaffelhuber won the women's giant slalom Sunday to go on top of the downhill, super G, slalom and super combined in the women's sitting class in Sochi.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Russia's deputy prime minister, Dmitry Kozak, told spectators that the Games "had gone far beyond sports competitions."
He said: They showed what people from different countries and nationalities different cultures and traditions are capable of when they are united by a single goal and an inspired dream.
"Attitudes toward people with an impairment have changed among Russian society. The Paralympic Winter Games have become a catalyst for our efforts to create a barrier-free environment in Russia.
"The Games are over, but we promise that this important work will continue throughout our vast country."
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