Johannes Klæbo becomes the first athlete to win 6 golds at a single Winter Games
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo becomes the first athlete to win six gold medals at a single Winter Olympics, sealing the milestone with victory in the 50km mass start as Norway sweep the podium.
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has delivered one of the greatest performances in Winter Olympics history. The Norwegian star secured his sixth gold medal of the Milano Cortina Games by winning the men’s 50km mass start, becoming the first athlete ever to claim six golds at a single Winter Olympics.
The victory surpasses the mark set by Eric Heiden, who captured five gold medals at the 1980 Lake Placid Games, a record that had stood for nearly half a century.
While Heiden’s titles all came in individual events, Klæbo’s golden run includes both individual and team victories. The American still retains the record for most individual golds at a single Winter Games, but Klæbo now stands alone for overall dominance.
Norway sweep the 50km Podium
Saturday’s 50km mass start unfolded as a masterclass in Norwegian team strategy and endurance. Klæbo led a remarkable 1-2-3 finish for Norway, with Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget taking silver and Emil Iversen claiming bronze.
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The trio broke clear of the field before the race reached its midpoint, steadily widening the gap on their rivals. Nyenget dictated a relentless tempo throughout, aware that allowing Klæbo to conserve energy for a final uphill burst would be decisive.
That scenario played out exactly as expected. With only the final climb remaining, Nyenget and Klæbo accelerated, distancing Iversen. Klæbo shadowed his teammate, conserving energy until the decisive moment.
On the final hill, he surged away. Klæbo crossed the line in 2:06:44.8, pointing skyward before collapsing in exhaustion, six gold medals secured in what he described as “two perfect weeks.” Nyenget finished 8.9 seconds behind, while Iversen came home 30.7 seconds later. “I went hard from the start,” Nyenget said. “But Johannes is the king.”
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A Dominant Tournament Run
Klæbo’s sweep echoes his performance at the 2025 World Championships in Trondheim, where he also won all six available titles. The consistency across global events underlines his position as the defining cross-country skier of his generation.
The 50km victory extends Klæbo’s career Winter Olympic gold medal tally to 11 across three Games, the most by any athlete in Winter Olympics history. He had already broken the previous record of eight earlier in the tournament.
Across both Summer and Winter Olympics, only Michael Phelps has won more Olympic gold medals, with 23 in swimming. At 29 years old, Klæbo’s dominance suggests further records may still be within reach.
The Race Beyond the Norwegian Trio
France’s Théo Schely finished fourth, nearly three minutes behind the winner. Savelii Korostelev, competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete, placed fifth at 3:38.3 back.
The race proved punishing for many. Five skiers failed to finish, including Finland’s Iivo Niskanen and Norway’s Harald Østberg Amundsen. Fourteen athletes were lapped over the 50km distance. The top American finisher was Gus Schumacher in 13th place, adding to his earlier relay silver medal performance.
Norway’s Record-Breaking Winter Olympics
Klæbo’s triumph also contributed to a historic medal haul for Norway.
The nation secured its 18th gold medal of the Games, setting a new record for most golds won by a country at a single Winter Olympics. Norway’s overall medal count climbed to 40, another Games record, reflecting both sustained excellence and an expanded Olympic programme.
The gold rush had begun even earlier when biathlete Johannes Dale-Skjevdal claimed victory in the 15km mass start. Together, these performances underline Norway’s continued supremacy in Nordic winter disciplines.
The Meaning of the 50km
In Norwegian skiing culture, the 50km carries symbolic weight — regarded as the ultimate test of endurance, resilience and tactical intelligence.
“To crown everything here with a 50K, it’s unbelievable,” Klæbo said. “In Norway, we say that if you’re going to become a man, you need to win the 50K.”
In Milan, he didn’t just win it. He used it to make history.
SportsLigue