A season for the ages: Klaebo’s golden 2025/26 campaign

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR) took winning in Cross-Country skiing to a whole new level in the 2025/26 season.

From claiming his 100th Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup victory on home snow in Trondheim to securing a record fifth Tour de Ski title, the Norwegian 29-year-old set the tone early and never relented.

At the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, he delivered perfection: six gold medals from six events, becoming the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time.

Across the season, Klaebo combined sprint supremacy with distance mastery, winning 12 consecutive international championship races and, for the first time in his career, sweeping the Overall, Sprint and Distance Crystal Globes – equalling the all-time record of six Overall titles in the process.

What made it even more remarkable was how he got there: a shift in preparation, a lighter mindset, and a willingness to have fun while racing hard. The result was one of the greatest seasons the sport has ever seen.

A new approach: “Having fun along the way”

After years of meticulous preparation, often involving months of isolation, Klaebo changed course ahead of 2025/26, bringing friend Emil Iversen (NOR) into his training group. It paid off immediately.

“This year, I’ve made some changes. I’ve brought this clown (Iversen) into the team,” Klaebo said in a press conference at Milano Cortina 2026.

The addition of Iversen brought a different energy to training, something Klaebo himself credited as a key factor in his success. Iversen, 34, who won an Olympic relay gold medal and a 50km bronze, also benefitted from the collaboration.

“We’ve had a lot of fun and this year has been much healthier than previous years. I feel less tired and I feel like my mental health is in a better place,” Klaebo said.

That balance between enjoyment and performance became a defining theme of his season.

100th World Cup victory on home snow

One of the standout moments of the season came before the championship period, when Klaebo reached 100 Coop FIS World Cup victories.

He could have ticked off the milestone in the first World Cup stage of the season in Ruka, Finland, but only won one of three races there – having finished second in the 10km Interval Start Classic – and instead got the chance to make it 100 wins on home snow.

At the Granaasen stadium in his hometown of Trondheim, where Klaebo had won six world titles in six events the previous spring, he made no mistake, claiming World Cup victory No.100 in front of friends and family as he won the Sprint Classic.

"It's perfect, there couldn't be a better place to take it and also to do it in sprint, it's special,” Klaebo said.

Tour de Ski history

In January, Klaebo became the first skier in history to win five Tour de Ski titles. He had taken control of the overall standings from the opening stage and never relinquished it.

“It’s always fun to race the Tour and it’s always great to win. I love the concept and everything, it’s great,” he said.

In Toblach, Italy, the 2018/19, 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons’ winner claimed first place in the Sprint Free and 20km Pursuit, finished second in the Men’s 10km Interval Start Classic and had to settle for 12th place in the Tour-debuting 5km Heat Mass Start.

In Val di Fiemme, Italy, he won the Sprint Classic and had the overall victory within reach despite saving energy in the Final Climb, where he finished 12th.

One year ago, he had equalled Dario Cologna (SUI) on four Tour titles. With five, he is alone at the top.

”The biggest challenge was probably the 5k,” Klaebo said.

”That was something new that we hadn’t done before, so that was challenging, but the rest has been pretty good and I’ve been in good shape as well.”

Olympic perfection: six gold medals from six starts

At Milano Cortina 2026, Klaebo turned dominance into history.

He opened his campaign with victory in the Skiathlon, setting the tone for what was to come.

“It was amazing out there. I had good skis, my body felt good and it’s always good to start a championship in good shape.”

He did, however, admit he had been nervous before kicking off his third Games.

”The last couple of days have been nerve-racking. I've had a very high resting heart rate these days.”

From there, Klaebo was unstoppable, winning every event he entered. By the end, he had completed a clean sweep of six gold medals and surpassed all previous Olympic records.

With 11 Olympic gold medals, he became the most decorated Winter Olympian. Across the Summer and Winter Games, his tally is only surpassed by USA swimmer Michael Phelps, who has 23 gold medals.

Klaebo's repeat of last year’s unbeaten World Championships campaign was completed with a dominant display in the 50km Mass Start Classic.

”It’s unbelievable. After the world championships we knew that it was possible but to be able to do it, it’s hard to find the right words. So many emotions when I’m crossing the finish line,” Klaebo said after the final event of his Olympic campaign, which Martin Loewstroem Nyenget and Iversen turned into a Norwegian one-two-three.

”Mentally I’ve been in a better place than last year, I feel like I have a lot of fun racing out there even though I’ve been nervous in some of the competitions.

A breakthrough moment: conquering the 10km Free

Among the many victories, one stood out for its significance.

Klaebo’s win in the 10km Interval Start Free marked his first-ever international victory in that event – a symbolic step in his evolution from sprint specialist to complete skier.

Klaebo had finished as No.1 but seen Einar Hedegart (NOR) beating his times until the 9km mark. After that, Hedegart ran out of steam and had to settle for bronze, with Mathis Desloges (FRA) claiming silver.

“It means a lot. This is the first time I have won a 10k skating [Freestyle] Interval Start, so being able to do that here at the Olympics, it’s just amazing,” Klaebo said.

”And with the weather and the atmosphere, to kind of have my best day here at the Olympics, it’s special.”

The victory proved that there were no longer any gaps in his repertoire and brought Klaebo level with Norway’s Cross-Country greats Bjoern Daehlie and Marit Bjoergen, and biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, on eight Olympic gold medals at that point.

Sprint supremacy continues

Despite expanding his range, Klaebo remained untouchable in Sprint.

Alongside claiming his third consecutive Olympic Sprint gold medal, with an uphill push that became a viral sensation, he won seven Sprints during the World Cup season, repeatedly breaking races apart with decisive moves at the right moments.

Having laughed about the prospect of competing at the 2027 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships venue in Falun, Sweden, one week after concluding his Olympic campaign, Klaebo changed his mind and went on to win the Falun Sprint in dominant fashion – perhaps fuelled by having let his hair down after the Games.

”After the last day in the Olympics, I managed to have a good party and that helps for just being able to come here. I think that was crucial,” Klaebo said.

He secured his eighth Sprint Crystal Globe after the World Cup stage in Drammen, Norway, on 12 March, with one Sprint left to race. Klaebo finished first in the Sprint standings with 835 points – 178 more than runner-up Lars Heggen (NOR), while retiring 2017 world champion Federico Pellegrino (ITA) claimed third with 566 points.

Overcoming setbacks: even adversity ends in victory

Even when things went wrong, Klaebo still found a way to respond.

In Davos, Switzerland, in December, he recorded the worst World Cup Sprint result of his career, finishing 17th after being eliminated in the quarter-finals. His previous worst result had come on his World Cup debut in Drammen in 2016, when he placed 15th.

Klaebo bounced back the next day to finish fourth in the 10km Interval Start Free – as Norway claimed seven of the top eight spots – on his way to winning Olympic gold in the event two months later.

After crashing in his semi-final in Drammen and suffering a concussion, his season briefly appeared in doubt. Eight days later, he returned to win the 10km Interval Start Classic in Lake Placid, USA.

”I was quite surprised that I was fighting for the win today, and to stand on top of the podium is quite crazy after how the last week was,” Klaebo said, having missed the 50km Mass Start at the Holmenkollen in Oslo.

“There were some really easy days at first, for sure – a bit boring to have to listen to the Holmenkollen 50K (in Oslo) on the radio because I was not allowed to look at the screen. I’ve been trying to stay away from screens and noise and it felt pretty good today.”

The complete sweep: three Crystal Globes

The season concluded with another milestone: total domination of the World Cup standings.

With back-to-back Distance wins in Lake Placid, Klaebo secured the Overall, Sprint and Distance Crystal Globes – the first time in his career he achieved the full sweep – while equalling the all-time record of six Overall titles.

It was also the first time he won the Distance Globe.

"I'm glad the season is over now," a clearly exhausted Klaebo said after winning the winter’s final World Cup event – the Lake Placid 20km Mass Start Free.

"It's time to rest a little bit but it was the perfect place to finish up the season. To be able to crown it with a victory and the Distance globe, it's amazing.

Click here to see all results from the 2025/26 World Cup season, here to see the final Men's World Cup standings and here to follow FIS Cross-Country on Youtube.