Hedegart unable to stop Klaebo claiming eighth Olympic gold

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR) became an eight-time Olympic champion with the man who appeared to be his closest rival in team-mate Einar Hedegart struggling in the final kilometer of the Men’s Interval Start Free, finishing in bronze at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium on Friday.

The French team have been in great form, which paid off with Mathis Desloges claiming his second silver of Milano Cortina, again behind Klaebo.

Hedegart, while not disappointed to win bronze on his Olympic debut, confidently said that it was the first time Klaebo had beaten him. “I am happy with the bronze even though I definitely had the opportunity to take gold and to beat Johannes,” Hedegart said.

“But this is my debut and I am not at the level that Johannes is right now. It’s not just to show up and take home the gold.”

“I’ve never been this tired in my whole life,” Hedegart added. “I couldn’t see properly on the last 2k I just had to fight to get over the finish line.

“In the last 200m I didn't know if I was going to make it to the finish line, and even though it was only downhill I was so scared that I would pass out.”

On winning his eighth gold medal to equal compatriot Bjoern Daehlie’s record, Klaebo said: “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, and with the weather and the atmosphere, to kind of have my best day here at the Olympics, it’s special.”

Desloges had not been one of the favourites coming into the Games but said: “I’ve been believing in these medals and working in every training session to dream of these medals. And today is a real dream, which is incredible, amazing.”

Norway also took the fourth and fifth spots with Harald Oestberg Amundsen and Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, just ahead of Great Britain’s Andrew Musgrave. Italy’s Martino Carollo was 39 seconds behind Musgrave in seventh.

Tricky conditions with sunshine making for slushy snow as the track had not been salted as it had been for the women the day before led to several falls, with Sweden’s William Poromaa’s tumble taking him out of contention for a top 10 finish.

While Hedegart is more of an unknown having switched from biathlon and entering his first Winter Olympics, the conditions were similar to those at Trondheim and Davos where he had won the 10km Freestyle races at the World Cup this season.

At the halfway point Klaebo had the lead time with Hedegart just five seconds behind, but faded on the final hill to lose out on a chance at gold. Klaebo paced well before making his push on the last hill as he had done in his previous races at Tesero. However, this time he collapsed after the finish showing that this win was perhaps not as easy as the others.

For results of the Men's Interval Start Free click here. For the full Cross-Country schedule for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games click here.