Winter Olympics 2026: Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo creates Olympic history with sixth gold medal, the most of any athlete at a single Games

Norwegian superstar Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has created history by winning the men's 50km mass start classic, his sixth gold of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games - more than any athlete has ever won in a single Games. Klaebo launched a clinical attack to surpass compatriots Martin Loewstrom Nyenget and Emil Iversen, and had the time to soak in the crowd's adulation before crossing the line.

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has broken the all-time record for most gold medals in a single Winter Olympic Games, racking up No. 6 by storming to 50km mass start glory at Milano Cortina 2026.

Klaebo had already won more golds in total at the Winter Olympics than anyone in history, and now he also has more than any other athlete at a single Games - surpassing Eric Heiden's speed skating tally at the 1980 Games at Lake Placid.

In a similar manner to his clean sweep at last year's World Championships, Klaebo has won gold in every race he entered at Milano Cortina - wrapping up the most dominant campaign ever seen at the Winter Olympics on Saturday with a stunning late attack.

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Martin Loewstrom Nyenget and Emil Iversen joined Klaebo on the podium in second and third, respectively, in a dominant Norwegian display.

Within a fortnight, Klaebo took his gold medal tally from five to 11, and is comfortably beyond the previous record of eight gold medals jointly held by Bjorn Daehlie, Ole Einar Bjorndalen and Marit Bjorgen.

He also extends Norway's lead in the medal table, notching their 18th gold, having already broken their own record of 16 set four years ago.

Klaebo alone has surpassed the gold medal tallies of Italy - who are third in the table - and Sweden.

A Norwegian 1-2-3 comprising Klaebo and compatriots Iversen and Nyenget seemed inevitable for much of the race as they largely led from the front throughout, but Klaebo was being tested by his countrymen.

Klaebo reveals why he almost didn't make start line before winning sixth gold

Video credit: TNT Sports

But in the final 5km, Klaebo launched an attack which quashed any doubts about his gold medal contention.

Akin to his uphill sprint which went viral on social media during the classic sprint, Klaebo charged ahead and never looked back.

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Before crossing the finish line by nearly a nine-second margin, Klaebo looked over his shoulder, slowed down and held his arms aloft - soaking in the adulation of the crowd, before slumping to the floor and embracing his compatriots.

Watch: Exhausted Klaebo salutes crowd after making more Olympic history

Video credit: TNT Sports

"That wasn't easy today," TNT Sports commentator Posy Musgrave said. "Nyenget made him do it the hard way. Did everything he could out there, and I think that smile at the end said that."

Team GB's Andrew Musgrave, meanwhile, finished sixth in an admirable effort at his fifth Olympic Games, aged 35.

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