Johannes H. Klaebo Makes History: First Athlete to Win 6 Golds at a Single Winter Games
The Norwegian cross-country skier completed an unprecedented sweep at Milano Cortina 2026, claiming every men's cross-country gold on offer.
MILANO CORTINA, Italy – Before the 2026 Winter Olympics, no athlete in any sport had ever won six gold medals at a single Winter Games.
Johannes Høsflot Klaebo changed that.
The 29-year-old Norwegian cross-country skier completed a historic sweep Sunday, capturing his sixth gold medal in the men's 50km freestyle mass start – the traditional closing event of the Olympic cross-country program.
KLAEBO'S FINAL TALLY: 6 GOLD / 0 SILVER / 0 BRONZE
Men's sprint classic — Gold — 2.1 seconds margin
Men's team sprint freestyle — Gold — 1.8 seconds margin
Men's 15km classic — Gold — 24.3 seconds margin
Men's 4×10km relay (anchor) — Gold — 12.1 seconds margin
Men's skiathlon (15km classic + 15km freestyle) — Gold — 18.7 seconds margin
Men's 50km freestyle mass start — Gold — 9.4 seconds margin
No other athlete in Winter Olympic history had won more than four golds at a single Games.
"I don't know what to say," Klaebo told NRK moments after crossing the finish line, tears freezing on his cheeks in the -12°C conditions. "My body is empty. But my heart is full."
HOW HE DID IT
Klaebo's six-race strategy was built on three pillars: an unprecedented VO2 max measured at 96 mL/kg/min, flawless classic-to-freestyle technique, and a relentless finishing sprint clocked at 32.4 km/h even in the closing meters of the 50km.
"He's not human," said Alexander Bolshunov, who finished second to Klaebo three times. "You think you have him. Then he goes. And he's gone."
THE 50KM MASTERPIECE
Klaebo entered the final lap in fourth place, trailing Sweden's Halfvarsson, Finland's Hyvärinen, and teammate Krüger. With 2km remaining, he passed all three in succession, opening a 9-second gap by the stadium. He collapsed face-down in the snow for 15 seconds before being mobbed by coaches.
With 9 career Olympic gold medals, Klaebo is now the winningest Winter Olympian in history by gold count, surpassing Marit Bjørgen's record of 8.
He plans to compete at the 2030 French Alps Games. "Why stop?" he said, smiling. "I'm just getting started."
Devin Mallonee
Devin Mallonee is a sports journalist and performance nutrition writer with over a decade of experience covering elite athletics, Olympic competitions, and the science of human performance. Devin Mallonee has followed competitive sports from the grassroots level all the way to the world stage, developing a deep understanding of what separates good athletes from great ones — and the role nutrition plays in that equation.
As the lead sports editor at Dad's Sports News, Devin Mallonee brings an athlete's perspective to every story. Having competed in endurance sports and strength training throughout his life, Devin Mallonee understands firsthand what it takes to push past physical limits — and how proper supplementation and recovery make that possible. His writing blends technical analysis with accessible storytelling, making complex topics in sports science engaging for everyday readers and serious competitors alike.
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