2026 Winter Olympics: Johannes Hosflot Klaebo wins sixth medal of the Games

Johannes Høsflot Klebo, Norway’s king of cross-country skiing, broke the record for the most gold medals won at a single Winter Olympics with his sixth win at the Games.

Klaebo led Norway’s sweep of the podium in the 50km mass start classic, while teammates Martin Luström Ningate and Emil Iversen took silver and bronze respectively.

The 29-year-old runner completed this grueling distance in two hours, six minutes and 44.8 seconds, 8.9 seconds behind Ningit, who won his third medal at the Games.

“It was crazy, it’s a dream come true,” Claybaugh told BBC Sport.

“I truly believe these Olympics were perfect. To be able to win the Olympics with the 50km race was incredible.”

Claybaugh broke the previous record of five golds in a single Games, which had been held by American speed skater Eric Hayden since the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.

He also extends his record for the most gold medals at a Winter Olympic Games to 11, while becoming the first athlete to win all six cross country events at a single Games.

Only American swimming legend Michael Phelps, who won 23 gold medals, has more Olympic titles to his name.

Born in Oslo, Claybo moved to Trondheim – a haven of cross-country skiing tracks – when he was a young child, a move that made him the greatest to ever play the sport.

No other man, active or retired, comes close to his record of 116 World Cup wins, while he is also a 15-time world champion, winning all six titles in last year’s edition on home ice in Trondheim.

“After the World Championships last year, we realized that it was possible, but to be able to do it, it is difficult to find the right words,” he told reporters.

“[There were] “A lot of emotions when I cross the finish line.”

His sixth Olympic gold medal in Milan Cortina adds to titles previously won at the Games in figure skating, classic sprint, 10 km free start, 4 x 7.5 km relay and team event.