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Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo distinguished himself from every other Winter Olympian who came before him on Saturday during the Cortina Games in Milan.
Klaebo won his sixth gold medal at the Games – this one coming in the 50 kilometer long mass start. He set the record for most gold medals by one athlete in a single Winter Olympics. He breaks a record set by American speed skater Eric Heiden, who won five golds at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
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Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway poses after winning the gold medal in the cross-country men’s 50 km mass start Classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Heiden still owns the individual record as two of Klaebo’s wins have come in team events.
Klaebo’s teammates Marin Loewstroem Nyenget and Emil Iversen took home silver and bronze respectively. The trio of Norwegians broke out to an early lead and then continued to build a gap on their chasers.
Klaebo took the lead as they reached the final hill. He didn’t look back from there.
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Silver medalist Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, right, shakes hands with gold medalist Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, both of Norway, after the men’s 50 km mass start cross-country race at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
He already entered Michael Phelps territory earlier in the Games when he became the first Winter Olympian to have at least 10 gold medals. He now has 13 on his resume. Phelps finished his career with 23.
The victory gave Norway a record 18th gold medal and further increased their lead in the total medal count in these Olympics to 40 overall.
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, left, Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, right, and Emil Iversen, all three of Norway, compete in the cross-country men’s 50 km mass start Classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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On Friday, the country set a record for the most gold medals won by a nation at a single Winter Olympics. Norway’s Johannes Dale-Skjevdal won the 15 kilometer mass start.
