Norway Sweeps Podium in Men's 50km Cross-Country

Johannes Klaebo's historic win secures 11th career gold

Norway dominates men's 50km cross-country with Klaebo, Nyenget, and Iversen on podium. Johannes Klaebo wins 6th gold medal in men's 50km classic, breaking Eric Heiden's record.

Harald Oestberg Amundsen from Norway and Iivo Niskanen from Finland, who were both strong contenders for a medal...

Johannes Klaebo, also known as ‘King Klaebo,’ made history by winning his sixth gold medal at the Milano Cortina Games, breaking the record for most titles in a single Winter Olympics. He led a Norwegian podium sweep in the men's 50km classic, with Martin Loewstroem Nyenget taking silver and Emil Iversen claiming bronze.

Klaebo's victory marks his 11th career gold medal, placing him behind only Michael Phelps, who has 23 Olympic gold medals. The 29-year-old Norwegian dominated all six cross-country skiing men's events at the Games, showcasing his exceptional skill and endurance.

The Norwegian trio made an early break, with Nyenget setting the pace and looking like a contender for gold. But Klaebo had other plans - he burst away on the final climb, dominating the hill where he'd left opponents struggling in previous races.

Klaebo's trademark move secured him the win, leaving Nyenget and Iversen to take silver and bronze, respectively. This victory marked Klaebo's sixth gold at the Winter Olympics, cementing his record as the most decorated athlete in a single Winter Games.

The Norwegian trio made their move early, with Martin Loewstroem Nyenget setting the pace, but Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo stole the show on the final climb, sprinting up the hill like he owns it. This is the same hill where he's left competitors in the dust throughout the Games, and he didn't disappoint this time either.

Klaebo's teammate, Nyenget, had pushed hard to keep up, but Klaebo had a different plan, leaving everyone behind and securing his sixth gold medal of the Games. This win sets a new record for most gold medals won by an athlete in a single Winter Olympics, surpassing Eric Heiden's 1980 record of five golds.

Johannes “King Klaebo” Hoesflot Klaebo made history by winning his sixth gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, breaking Eric Heiden's record of five gold medals from the 1980 Lake Placid Games. Klaebo dominated the men's 50km mass start classic cross-country race, finishing with a comfortable lead, but collapsed at the finish line in an unusual show of exhaustion.

Klaebo's victory marked a Norwegian sweep, with teammates Martin Loewstroem Nyenget taking silver and Emil Iversen winning bronze. Fourth-place finisher Theo Schely of France crossed the finish line nearly three minutes behind Klaebo. Several racers, including Harald Oestberg Amundsen of Norway and Iivo Niskanen of Finland, dropped out of the competition due to illness or exhaustion.

Harald Oestberg Amundsen from Norway and Iivo Niskanen from Finland, who were both strong contenders for a medal, had to drop out of the 50km classic cross-country ski race. They were forced to withdraw around the 37-minute mark, with about 15km completed, due to illness. Niskanen had been struggling with an illness all week, while Amundsen's performance was affected by a sickness he contracted before the Games.

This is a tough break for both athletes, who were expected to perform well. 

SIX. 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo makes history at #MilanoCortina2026, as the first athlete EVER to win SIX Olympic golds at a single Winter Games. 🤯❄️

Dominance. Precision. Pure cross-country greatness. 🇳🇴🔥@milanocortina26 | #WinterOlympics#CrossCountrySkiing |… pic.twitter.com/YjhI50hylr

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) February 21, 2026

Olympic medalists Federico Pellegrino from Italy and Ben Ogden from the United States won't be competing in the 50km classic cross-country ski race due to illnesses. Pellegrino, who has won two bronze medals at the Milano Cortina Games, cited flu-like symptoms, saying “I am enormously sorry to tell you that today I will not be at the start of the 50 km.” Ogden, who has won two silver medals, is resting to recover for the last four weeks of World Cup racing.