Norwegian Skier Wins Record 6 Golds at Single Olympics

Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo made history today by becoming the first athlete to win six gold medals at a single Winter Olympics. His victory in the grueling 50-kilometer mass start race shattered a record that stood for nearly 50 years.

The 29-year-old completed a perfect sweep of all six men's cross-country skiing events at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. He broke the previous record of five golds set by American speed skater Eric Heiden at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.

"It feels amazing," Klæbo said after crossing the finish line. "In Norway, we say that if you're gonna become a man, you need to win the 50K and today we did, so it's a perfect way to end two perfect weeks."

The final race came down to a Norwegian showdown. Klæbo's teammate Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget pushed a blistering pace from the start, trying to shake his compatriot before the finish.

But Nyenget knew what was coming. Klæbo has become famous for his devastating uphill sprint, and this race would be no different.

As the two Norwegian skiers reached the final hill, Klæbo made his move and pulled away. He pointed toward the sky as he glided across the finish line in 2:06:44.8, then toppled over on his hip and rolled onto his back in exhaustion.

Nyenget finished just 8.9 seconds later and congratulated his teammate. "I managed to get rid of everyone else, but the best," he said. "So I'm really happy about my performance, but Johannes is the king."

The Ripple Effect

Klæbo's historic performance is lifting an entire nation. Norway now holds a record 18 gold medals at these Games and leads the total medal count with 40, also a Winter Olympics record.

The country has dominated winter sports for generations, but this moment represents something special. Klæbo now has 11 career Olympic golds across three Games, extending his own record for most Winter Olympic gold medals ever.

Only one athlete in Olympic history has won more gold medals than Klæbo: American swimming icon Michael Phelps, who collected 23 golds across five Summer Olympics. Klæbo still has years of competition ahead of him.

His Milano Cortina sweep matched what he accomplished at last year's world championships in Trondheim, Norway, where he also won all six events. Four of his six golds at these Olympics came in individual races, while two came in team events.

This achievement inspires a new generation of Nordic skiers and proves that with dedication and heart, records that seem unbreakable can fall.