Winter Olympics: Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo wins record-equalling eighth gold medal with stunning 10km start free victory at Milano Cortina 2026

Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo took a record-equalling eighth gold with a stunning victory in the men's 10km interval start free on Friday. The 29-year-old adds to the three golds won in 2018 and the two he claimed in 2022, while he has three events left at Milano Cortina to achieve the outright record. France’s Mathis Deloges took silver as Klaebo's teammate Einar Hedegart claimed bronze.

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo took a record-equalling eighth gold with a stunning victory in the men's 10km interval start free on Friday at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games.

The Norwegian superstar's victory, his third of the games thus far, moved him level with compatriots Bjorn Daehlie, Marit Bjorgen, both cross-country skiers, and biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen.

It follows his golds at these Games in the men’s cross-country skiing sprint classic and the 10km skiathlon.

Falun

Klaebo triumphs again, says Olympics 'party' helped him prepare for World Cup glory

28/02/2026 at 19:25

The 29-year-old has the opportunity to achieve the outright record for Winter Olympic triumphs, with the men’s relay, men’s team sprint and 50km marathon still to come.

"It means a lot," Klaebo revealed afterwards.

"Being able to do that also with the race today, which is probably one of the races that I have struggled in the most over the years means a lot.

"I feel like today was the perfect day to do it and I am just really proud with what I’ve accomplished today."

Watch the UTTER exhaustion of Klaebo behind the scenes after latest gold

Video credit: TNT Sports

France’s Mathis Deloges took silver as Klaebo's Norwegian teammate Einar Hedegart claimed bronze.

Meanwhile, Britain’s Andrew Musgrave finished in an impressive sixth, while Joe Davies came home in 12th.

Hedegart, whose attempt came after Klaebo's in the time trial format, looked set to take the gold, bettering his team-mate's efforts for much of his run.

But he ran out of steam and saw his time fall behind for the first time at the final checkpoint.

Klaebo's time of 20:36.2 proved enough, with Deloges finishing 4.9 seconds down on the Norwegian and Hedegard 14 seconds behind.

Klaebo's medals at Milano Cortina add to the three he won at PyeongChang 2018 and the two he claimed at Beijing 2022.

He now has 10 Olympic medals in total, having also taken a silver and bronze home from China four years ago.

His first attempt to add a ninth gold will come in the men's relay on Sunday, an event Norway won by 21.6 seconds at the 2025 worlds.

• Camera operator down! Roussel skids out of control
• 'Where is he going?' - Shirtless Hagenbuch's wrong turn

Klaebo's uphill dash en route to winning the classic sprint event earlier this week went viral, as he left the world to marvel at his incredible levels of physicality and endurance.

TNT Sports expert Dixon explained why the conditions on the course made his feat even more impressive than it first appeared.

"Just to put this into perspective, these skis and poles, they actually have some weight to them," Dixon explained.

"So you're moving this equipment, and look at the speed he's going. There's also wax on his skis, so it's not as if there's a great connection to the snow. He's hurtling up this hill because he's an absolute machine that we've never seen before in the world of cross-country skiing."

---

Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.

Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026

Dotzler a victim of 'strange situations' as skis taken by rival - 'She said sorry'

22/02/2026 at 17:29