Norwegian cross-country skiing sensation Johannes Høsflot Klæbo didn’t just compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics—he conquered them. In a performance that rewrote the history books, the 29-year-old phenom claimed six gold medals, becoming the first athlete ever to win that many at a single Winter Games.
Klæbo’s golden sweep was flawless: he dominated every men’s cross-country event he entered, from blistering sprints to grueling endurance races. Starting with gold in the Men’s 10km + 10km Skiathlon on February 8, he powered through the men’s sprint classic, team sprint free, 10km interval start free, 4×7.5km relay, and capped it all with an emotional victory in the 50km mass start classic on February 21. Norway swept the podium in that final marathon, with Klæbo leading teammates Martin Loewstroem Nyenget and Emil Iversen across the line.
This shattered the previous single-Games record of five golds, set by U.S. speed skater Eric Heiden at Lake Placid 1980. With these six added to his previous hauls from PyeongChang 2018 (three golds) and Beijing 2022 (two golds), Klæbo now boasts 11 Olympic gold medals overall—making him the most decorated Winter Olympian in history and the second-most successful gold medalist across all Olympics, trailing only Michael Phelps’ 23.
Social media exploded with the “biggest flex” narrative, as fans and outlets shared images of Klæbo posing with his six golds in a now-viral selfie. Posts highlighted the absurdity: if Klæbo had competed as his own nation, his six golds alone would have placed him around 9th in the overall medal table. Comments poured in calling him the “Winter GOAT,” “overpowered,” and the undisputed “King Klæbo.”
“From teenage struggles to the most decorated Winter Olympian—Milano Cortina 2026 changed my life,” Klæbo reflected in post-Games interviews, visibly emotional after his final race. Competitors and analysts alike hailed him as the greatest cross-country skier ever, praising his versatility across distances—from explosive short bursts to multi-hour endurance battles.
Norway topped the medal table with 41 total medals (18 gold), their best Winter Games ever, while host nation Italy set a national record with 30 medals. But even amid team triumphs, one name towered above all: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.
The 2026 Games may be over, but Klæbo’s legacy is just beginning. At 29, the Norwegian king shows no signs of slowing down. Winter sports fans everywhere can agree: we’ve witnessed history—and it came on skis. 🇳🇴❄️🥇
