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Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo added an eighth Olympic gold on Friday in Tesero, Italy, winning the men’s 10-kilometer interval-start at the Milan Cortina 2026 Games. The 29-year-old secured his third gold of these Games in a time of 20:36.2, collapsing at the finish after a punishing final climb. With three individual races still to come, Klaebo now shares the all-time Winter Olympics gold mark with Marit Bjørgen, Bjørn Dæhlie and Ole Einar Bjørndalen, all retired Norwegian legends.
Key Takeaways
- Klaebo won the men’s 10 km interval-start in 20:36.2, claiming his eighth Olympic gold and his third at Milan Cortina 2026.
- He finished 4.9 seconds ahead of France’s Mathis Desloges and 14.0 seconds clear of fellow Norwegian Einar Hedegart.
- The race took place in Tesero, with temperatures near 5°C (41°F) and clear skies around the Dolomites.
- Organizers left the course untreated on race day after salting Thursday; Klaebo, an early starter among seeded skiers, benefited from the firmer track.
- Klaebo said this distance has been one of his biggest challenges, making the victory personally significant.
- Norwegian fans and political leaders publicly celebrated; Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre posted congratulations online.
- Three more Olympic events remain for Klaebo at these Games, leaving open the possibility he could surpass the shared record.
Background
Norway has a long, dominant tradition in cross-country skiing and biathlon; the country’s athletes are central to Winter Olympic medal tables. The eight-gold benchmark has been set by three retired Norwegians—Marit Bjørgen and Bjørn Dæhlie in cross-country, and Ole Einar Bjørndalen in biathlon—making Klaebo’s achievement both a national milestone and a continuity of Norwegian excellence.
Interval-start races pit skiers against the clock rather than direct side-by-side sprints. That format rewards steady pacing, waxing choices and the ability to produce a decisive final climb without direct time cues from rivals. Klaebo, known for tactical pacing and a powerful finishing kick, has historically been stronger in head-to-head formats; his victory in an interval start addresses a known gap in his résumé.
Main Event
The course in Tesero featured a demanding final hill where Klaebo made his decisive move, ultimately posting 20:36.2. He showed visible fatigue at the line, collapsing after the effort that earned him the win, a sign of the race’s intensity. Seeded as an early starter, Klaebo gained an advantage from firmer snow conditions after organizers chose not to re-treat the surface on race day.
France’s 23-year-old Mathis Desloges took silver, his second medal of the Games, finishing 4.9 seconds behind Klaebo. Desloges said he focused inward during the race and was largely unaware of intermediate splits, a common approach in interval starts where athletes race to their own rhythm rather than react to opponents on course.
Fellow Norwegian Einar Hedegart slipped back on the final climb and placed third, 14 seconds adrift of the winner. Spectators draped Norwegian flags in the stands and cheered as Klaebo took the podium, while family members, including his grandfather Kare Hoesflot, watched from the venue.
Analysis & Implications
Klaebo’s tying of the all-time Winter Games gold record reinforces Norway’s generational depth in nordic sports. The record is notable because the three other athletes who hold it represent different eras and disciplines—Bjørgen and Dæhlie in cross-country and Bjørndalen in biathlon—highlighting cross-discipline Norwegian strength rather than dominance by a single event.
Practically, Klaebo’s win may shift how rivals and coaches approach the remaining events. Opponents will reassess pacing strategies, equipment and waxing plans, and national teams may prioritize events where split seconds and tactical choices can be decisive. Broadcasters and sponsors are likely to intensify coverage and commercial interest as the possibility of a sole-record holder becomes real.
For the sport’s global profile, milestones like this create narrative momentum. If Klaebo adds more golds, it will amplify conversations about athlete longevity, training advances and Norway’s development systems. Conversely, rivals who capitalise on interval-start formats or mass-start tactical nuance could challenge Norway’s stranglehold in future championships.
| Athlete | Discipline | Olympic golds | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo | Cross-country | 8 | Active |
| Marit Bjørgen | Cross-country | 8 | Retired |
| Bjørn Dæhlie | Cross-country | 8 | Retired |
| Ole Einar Bjørndalen | Biathlon | 8 | Retired |
The table highlights that Klaebo joins a small, exclusive group. Unlike the others, he remains active and has three events left at these Games, creating a realistic pathway to become the outright record-holder.
Reactions & Quotes
I think I like Friday the 13th. It’s a good day.
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo
Klaebo referenced a personal fondness for the date, noting he once proposed on a June 13 that fell on a Friday. He described the win as meaningful because the distance has been a recurring challenge in his career.
I trained incredibly hard for these races, and now we are delivering.
Mathis Desloges
Desloges celebrated the silver as confirmation of his preparation and rising form, with teammates and staff visibly jubilant at the finish area despite not taking gold.
Another show of strength from Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo. Congratulations on gold number three in these Olympics!
Jonas Gahr Støre (Norwegian Prime Minister)
Political leaders and fans back home celebrated immediately on social media, underlining the national resonance of Klaebo’s achievement in Norway, where cross-country skiing is a premier winter sport.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Klaebo will surpass the shared record this Games remains open; he has three events left but future outcomes are uncertain.
- Claims that a specific waxing choice decided the race lack publicly released technical confirmation from teams; equipment effects are typically discussed post-race by technicians.
- Any suggestion that untreated Friday conditions guaranteed Klaebo’s win oversimplifies factors like fitness, tactics and in-race pacing.
Bottom Line
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo’s eighth Olympic gold in Tesero is both a personal milestone and a notable moment in Norway’s sustained winter-sport dominance. The victory fills a gap in his résumé — success in an interval-start distance — and ties him with three of the sport’s all-time greats.
With multiple events still ahead at Milan Cortina 2026, Klaebo has a live opportunity to become the sole record-holder. For rivals and national programs, his run will sharpen tactical planning and intensify attention on equipment, pacing and course conditions over the remaining competitions.