In the snowy mountains of Tesero, Italy, history was written in powerful strides. Norway’s cross-country skiing star Johannes Høsflot Klæbo became the first athlete ever to win six gold medals at a single Winter Olympic Games.
His final victory came in the demanding 50-kilometre mass start race, a test of endurance, strategy, and mental strength. With that win, Klæbo broke a nearly 50-year-old record set by American speed skating legend Eric Heiden, who won five gold medals at the 1980 Winter Olympics.
While Heiden’s five victories were all individual events, a record that still stands, Klæbo’s six golds include both individual and team competitions. Still, the achievement marks a new chapter in Winter Olympic history.
Crossing the finish line, Klæbo was overwhelmed. He pointed toward the sky, took one final stride, then collapsed onto the snow, rolling onto his back in disbelief and relief. “It’s unbelievable,” he said afterwards. “It still feels good to race, and I’m always looking forward to going out there and fighting for the medal.”
The 50-kilometer race was dominated by Norway. Teammates Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget and Emil Iversen took silver and bronze, completing a Norwegian sweep of the podium. In the final uphill stretch, Klæbo waited patiently behind Nyenget before launching his trademark finishing sprint, a powerful burst that left his teammate unable to respond.
Nyenget later joked, “I’m starting to believe maybe he is a machine. It’s close to impossible to beat him in the finish.”
With this sixth gold, Klæbo now holds 11 career Olympic gold medals across three Winter Games, extending his own record and surpassing the previous mark of eight. Only Michael Phelps, with 23 Olympic gold medals, has more overall.
Klæbo’s triumph also fueled Norway’s dominance at these Games. The country secured its 18th gold medal, setting a new national record for most golds at a single Winter Olympics and leading the total medal count with 40.
For Klæbo, however, the numbers tell only part of the story. What truly defines him is his relentless drive, his calm under pressure, and that unstoppable final sprint, the moment when he quite literally runs away from history and into it.
