Additional Coverage:
Klaebo Skis to Eighth Gold, Ties Winter Olympics Record
Lago, Italy – Norway’s Johannes Klaebo once again showcased his unparalleled speed on the snow, clinching gold in Friday’s 10-kilometer free and, in doing so, tying the Winter Olympics record for most gold medals.
Klaebo, who had never before won this specific event at a major competition, powered through the Tesero Cross-Country Stadium course in a blistering 20:36.2. He outpaced France’s Mathis Desloges, who took second with a time of 20:41.1, by a margin of 4.9 seconds. Norwegian teammate Einar Hedegart secured the bronze, finishing 14 seconds behind Klaebo at 20:50.2.
“This is the first time I have won a 10-kilometer skating interval start,” Klaebo shared with NBC. “So, being able to do that here at the Olympics, it’s just amazing, and with the weather and the atmosphere, to kind of have my best day here at the Olympics, it’s special.”
This latest victory marks Klaebo’s third medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Lago, Italy. Earlier in the week, he made headlines for his impressive nearly 12-mph uphill climb during his sprint classic final win on Tuesday.
His remarkable eight career gold medals now place him alongside fellow Norwegian legends Mari Bjorgen, Ole Einar Bjorndalen, and Bjorn Daehlie for the most in Winter Olympics history. Furthermore, his total of 10 Winter Olympics medals, which includes a silver and bronze from the 2022 games, ties him for sixth-most all-time.
Should Klaebo reach nine gold medals, he would enter a seven-way tie for the second-most in the history of the Olympic Games, both Winter and Summer, with only Michael Phelps’ astounding 23 gold medals ahead of him.
Klaebo is slated for several more opportunities to make Olympic history at the Milan-Cortina games. He is expected to compete in Sunday’s 4 x 7.5-kilometer relay, Wednesday’s team sprint final, and the men’s 50-kilometer mass start classic on February 21.
A clean sweep of these remaining events would see him tie Ireen Wust of the Netherlands and Italy’s Arianna Fontana for the third-most medals in Winter Olympics history. Fontana, the most decorated short-track speed skater ever, has already added two medals to her collection at Milan-Cortina, including a gold in the 2,000-meter mixed relay and a silver in the 500-meter final.
For the United States, John Steel Hagenbuch was the top finisher in Friday’s 10-kilometer free, placing 14th. Americans Zanden McMullen, Zak Ketterson, and Gus Schumacher finished 32nd, 38th, and 39th, respectively.
The men’s 4 x 7.5-kilometer relay is scheduled for Sunday at 6 a.m. EST in Lago and will be broadcast on USA Network.