Johannes Klaebo becomes first athlete to win six golds at a single Winter Games

When Johannes Hosflot Klaebo crossed the line in the gruelling 50km mass start on 21 February 2026, he completed one of the most extraordinary feats in Olympic history. The Norwegian cross-country skier had entered six events at Milano Cortina 2026 and won all six, becoming the first athlete ever to claim six gold medals at a single Winter Games.

His clean sweep took in the skiathlon, the 10km free, the sprint classic, the team sprint free, the 4x7.5km relay and the marathon 50km. The previous record of five golds at one Winter Olympics had stood since speed skater Eric Heiden achieved it at Lake Placid in 1980. Klaebo surpassed it, though it is worth noting that two of his titles came in team events, while Heiden five were all individual.

“The Norwegian cross-country skier had entered six events at Milano Cortina 2026 and won all six, becoming the first athlete ever to claim six gold medals at a single Winter Games.”

At the finish of the final race, Klaebo pointed his fingers to the sky, took one stride across the line and toppled onto his back, spent and triumphant. The win lifted his career total to 11 Olympic gold medals, making him the second most decorated Olympian of all time, summer or winter, behind only swimmer Michael Phelps.

Klaebo achievement is a study in relentless consistency and endurance, a reminder that greatness in sport is rarely about a single dazzling moment. It is built race after race, day after day, through a willingness to keep pushing when others fade. For young skiers across Norway and beyond, his Milano Cortina campaign sets a benchmark that will be talked about for generations.