Klæbo Captures Sixth Olympic Gold With Dominant Skiathlon Victory in Milan-Cortina

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo cemented his status as one of the greatest Winter Olympians of all time on Saturday, capturing his sixth career gold medal with a masterful performance in the men's 10km + 10km skiathlon at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games. The 29-year-old Norwegian crossed the finish line in 46 minutes and 11 seconds, showcasing his trademark explosive finishing speed to break clear of the lead pack in the final 500 meters and claim Norway's second gold medal of these Olympics.

France's Mathis Desloges claimed the silver medal just 2.0 seconds behind Klæbo, while Norwegian teammate Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget rounded out the podium with bronze, finishing 2.1 seconds off the winning pace. The tight margins at the finish demonstrated the intensity of the competition, but Klæbo's ability to accelerate when it mattered most proved the difference as he surged away from his rivals in the closing meters with the kind of blistering speed that has defined his illustrious career.

The skiathlon format, which combines classic and freestyle techniques over 10 kilometers each, played perfectly to Klæbo's versatile skill set and legendary endurance. He maintained contact with the lead group throughout the classic portion before unleashing his devastating kick in the freestyle segment, where his superior technique and conditioning allowed him to steadily build an advantage that his competitors couldn't match. The victory marked his first Olympic gold in the skiathlon discipline, adding another achievement to his already remarkable résumé.

With this latest triumph, Klæbo now sits just two gold medals away from equaling the Winter Olympics record for career golds, putting him in rarified company among the greatest winter athletes in history. He still has five more events remaining in Milan-Cortina, giving him multiple opportunities to add to his haul and potentially make history before these Games conclude. His dominance in cross-country skiing has spanned three Olympic cycles, and at 29 years old, he shows no signs of slowing down.

The race itself unfolded on a challenging course that tested the athletes' technical abilities and tactical awareness, with several lead changes in the classic segment before the field thinned considerably once skiers transitioned to freestyle. Klæbo positioned himself perfectly in the lead pack, conserving energy while monitoring his rivals' movements, then executed his race strategy flawlessly when the moment came to attack. His experience and racing intelligence were on full display as he chose the precise moment to make his move, knowing his competitors wouldn't be able to respond.

For Norway, Klæbo's victory continues their proud tradition of cross-country skiing excellence and provides crucial momentum as they pursue the overall medal count title at these Winter Games. The double podium finish, with Nyenget joining Klæbo on the stand, showcased the depth of Norwegian talent and served notice that they will be formidable competitors across all disciplines throughout the remainder of Milan-Cortina 2026. Klæbo's quest for Winter Olympics immortality is well underway, and the skiing world will be watching eagerly to see if he can add to his golden collection in the events still to come.