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Norwegian skier makes history with sixth gold
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo became the first athlete to win six gold medals at a single Winter Olympics after dominating the 50km mass start classic event in Milan-Cortina on Saturday.
Record-breaking performance
The 29-year-old Norwegian crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 44.8 seconds, securing his sixth gold of the 2026 Games. Teammates Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget and Emil Iversen completed a Norwegian podium sweep, earning silver and bronze respectively.
Klæbo's achievement surpasses American speed skater Eric Heiden's long-standing record of five golds from the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. With this victory, Klæbo also extends his own record for the most Winter Olympic golds to 11, becoming the first cross-country skier to win all six events at a single Games.
Reactions from the champion
"It's been crazy, it's a dream come true. I really think this Olympics has been perfect. Being able to crown the Olympics with the 50km was unbelievable."
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo
Reflecting on his journey, Klæbo added: "After the world championships last year, we knew that it was possible, but to be able to do it, it's hard to find the right words. So many emotions when I'm crossing the finish line."
Norway's dominance in cross-country skiing
Klæbo's success is part of a broader Norwegian dominance in the sport. The country has now won 116 World Cup events, with Klæbo alone accounting for the majority. He is also a 15-time world champion, having swept all six titles at the 2025 championships in Trondheim.
Born in Oslo and raised in Trondheim, Klæbo's rise to the top of the sport has been meteoric. His record-breaking performances have cemented his status as the greatest cross-country skier in history.
Great Britain's best-ever Olympic results
Team GB's Andrew Musgrave finished sixth in the 50km mass start, nearly four minutes behind Klæbo. Musgrave, competing in his fifth Olympics at age 35, joked about his future prospects: "I'm still young and promising."
The British team achieved its best-ever Olympic results in cross-country skiing at these Games. Musgrave and James Clugnet secured fifth place in the team sprint, while Anna Pryce recorded the best-ever result for a British woman with 32nd place in the sprint classic.
"We've had the best ever women's Olympic result, best ever men's Olympic result, best ever team result. Joe is still young and up and coming, he's doing super good, fighting for top 10s. The whole team is just showing that we work well together."
Andrew Musgrave
What's next for the Winter Olympics
The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will conclude on February 22. Fans can follow live streams, highlights, and updates on BBC platforms, including iPlayer, Radio 5 Live, and the BBC Sport website and app.
