Winter Olympics 2026: Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo wins sixth medal of Games

Norway’s cross-country skiing king, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, broke the record for winning the most single gold medals at the Winter Olympics for the sixth time.

Klaebo continued to lead Norway on the podium in the 50-kilometer mass start classic, while his teammates Martin Loewstroem Nyenget and Emil Iversen took silver and bronze medals respectively.

The 29-year-old completed the brutal distance in two hours, six minutes and 44.8 seconds, 8.9 seconds ahead of Nyenget, who claimed her third medal of the Games.

“It was crazy, a dream come true,” Klaebo told BBC Sport.

“I think these Olympics were truly excellent. To crown the Olympics with 50 kilometers was incredible.”

Klaebo broke the record of five golds in a single game, held by American speed skater Eric Heiden since the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.

She also increased the record for most gold medal wins at the Winter Olympics to 11, while also becoming the first athlete to win all six cross-country races at one Games.

Only American swimming great Michael Phelps, who has won 23 gold medals, has more Olympic titles to his name.

Born in Oslo, Klaebo moved to Trondheim, the mecca of cross-country ski trails, as a young child, leading him to become the greatest person ever to take up the sport.

While no one else, active or retired, comes close to his record of 116 World Cup wins, he is also a 15-time world champion and won all six titles on home snow in Trondheim last year.

“After last year’s world championships we knew it was possible, but it’s hard to find the right words to do it,” he told reporters.

“[There were] “I experience so many emotions as I cross the finish line.”

His sixth Olympic gold medal in Milan-Cortina added to the titles he had previously won at the Skiathlon Games, including the sprint classic, 10 km interval free start, 4×7.5 km relay and team sprint championships.