The 29‑year‑old, racing with Einar Hedegart, won the men's cross-country team sprint for his fifth gold at the 2026 Games, clocking 18 minutes, 28.9 seconds.

While Norway rules the 2026 medal table, its hockey teams are at home — a stark difference from its Nordic neighbors Sweden and Finland.

Norway's dominance in cross-country skiing and other winter sports at the Milan Cortina Olympics comes down to depth, development and a winning culture built over decades.

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, right, and Einar Hedegart, of Norway, pose after winning the gold medal in cross-country skiing men’s team sprint free at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. AP

Jens Luraas Oftebro, left, swept all three Nordic combined competitions. Anne-Christine Poujoulat / AFP via TESERO, Italy — Ski jumping and cross-country skiing through steady snowfall, Norway’s Andreas Skoglund and Jens Lurås Oftebro won what could be the final gold medal ever handed out in Nordic combined at the Winter Olympic Games,

Last updated: Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. ET Top takeaway: Norway has stretched its lead to 14 gold medals and 31 total medals, while host Italy is up to 9 gold (24 total) and Team USA has climbed to 6 gold (21 total) as another wave of finals hits the standings

Norway cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo set a Winter Olympics record on Sunday by winning his ninth career gold medal — most in Winter Olympic history. The gold was his fourth of the 2026 Winter Olympics, joining his victories in the 10 km freestyle, 20 km skiathlon and the men's individual sprint.

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath saw his gold-medal hopes slip away in the Olympic slalom and decided to send his ski poles sailing along with them.