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Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo distinguished himself from all the other Winter Olympians who preceded him on Saturday at the Milan Cortina Games.
Klaebo won his sixth gold medal of the Games – this one in the 50-kilometer mass start. He set the record for the most gold medals won by an athlete in a single Winter Olympics. He breaks a record set by American speed skater Eric Heiden, who won five gold medals at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
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Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo poses after winning the gold medal in the men’s 50km mass start classic event in cross-country skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, February 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Heiden still holds the individual record as two of Klaebo’s victories came in team events.
Klaebo’s teammates Marin Loewstroem Nyenget and Emil Iversen took silver and bronze, respectively. The trio of Norwegians quickly took the advantage and then continued to widen the gap on their pursuers.
Klaebo took the lead as they reached the final hill. He hasn’t looked back.
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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 classic in cross-country skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, February 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
He already entered Michael Phelps territory earlier in the Games when he became the first Winter Olympic athlete to win at least 10 gold medals. He now has 13 on his CV. Phelps finished his career with 23.
The victory gave Norway a record 18th gold medal and further increased its lead in total medals at these Olympics to 40 in total.
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, left, Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, right, and Emil Iversen, all of Norway, compete in the classic men’s 50 km mass start cross-country skiing event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, February 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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On Friday, the country set the record for the most gold medals won by a nation at a single Winter Olympics. Norwegian Johannes Dale-Skjevdal won the 15-kilometer mass start.
