Johannes Klaebo Wins Gold, Sweeps All Six Cross-Country Ski Races in Italy 2026

Johannes Klaebo has made history at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina by winning gold in the 50-kilometer classical race. By sweeping all six cross-country ski events, the Norwegian athlete added yet another impressive achievement to his Olympic career.

Historic Victory for Johannes Klaebo

At just 29 years old, Klaebo secured his eleventh Olympic title over three participations (2018, 2022, 2026). His latest victory came during the climactic race of the cross-country event, where he finished ahead of his fellow Norwegians, Martin Nyenget and Emil Iversen, who took silver and bronze, respectively.

The Race at Tesero

The race, held in Tesero, showcased a powerful performance from the Norwegian trio. Klaebo and his teammates dominated throughout most of the competition. Iversen fell behind in the final four kilometers and Klaebo executed a decisive acceleration that allowed him to pull ahead of Nyenget, resulting in a winning time of 2 hours and 7 minutes.

Klaebo’s Remarkable Achievements

This victory replicated Klaebo’s exceptional feat at the World Championships last year in Trondheim, where he also earned six gold medals. Rarely have athletes excelled to such a degree in Winter Olympic history.

• Eric Heiden: Achieved five individual golds in speed skating at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
• Ole Einar Bjørndalen: Secured four medals, including a relay, in biathlon at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

Klaebo’s six victories at these games included four individual events and two team events, solidifying his status as one of the greatest cross-country skiers in history.

Record-Breaking Performances

With the absence of his main competitor, Alexander Bolshunov, who was barred from competing, Klaebo set a new record for the most Winter Olympic titles with eight medals to his name. This achievement places him second among all Olympic athletes, summer or winter, trailing behind the legendary swimmer Michael Phelps, who holds 23 gold medals from 2004 to 2016.