Klaebo on brink of becoming most decorated Cross-Country skier of all time

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR) is in line to claim his ninth Winter Olympic Games gold in the Men’s 4 x 7.5km Relay to become the most decorated Cross-Country skier of all time.

Klaebo is currently equal with compatriot Bjoern Daehlie with eight Olympic gold medals, after winning a hat-trick of golds already at Milano Cortina 2026.

However, as the Women’s 4 x 7.5km Relay proved on Saturday, difficult conditions can trip up even the strongest of teams as Sweden’s women’s charge for gold unravelled after Ebba Andersson fell twice. While the team did well to recover for the silver medal, replacing broken equipment caused over a minute of time to make up which ultimately proved too much to overcome.

Following Klaebo’s gold on Friday in the Men’s Interval Start Free, Daehlie himself reminded the Norwegian star not to forget to enjoy himself.

“I feel that I can enjoy it pretty well,” said Klaebo. “You’re inside of a bubble now and it’s all about getting ready for the next race. But the body has felt good and I’ve managed to enjoy myself too. 

“We just need to take on Sunday, then we’re coming into a slightly calmer week next week and can enjoy it a bit more then.”

However, he did admit there was pressure ahead of Sunday’s race: “There’s a lot of pressure. We need to be up there, for sure."

While the Beijing 2022 gold was won by the Russian Olympic Committee with Norway coming in second, Norway were top of the podium at the 2025 world championships.

Klaebo’s team-mates Emil Iversen, Martin Loewstroem Nyenget and Einar Hedegart have also been showing good form at the Winter Games. Nyenget has been fighting for top spots at Milano Cortina, winning bronze in the Men’s 10km + 10km Skiathlon, while Hedegart won bronze in the Men’s Interval Start Free, both behind team-mate Klaebo.

They are likely to be keeping an eye out for France, who have brought a strong team to Italy, with Mathis Desloges in particular managing to be the closest challenger to Klaebo, winning silver in both the Skiathlon and Interval Start Free races.

“He has really figured his shape out ahead of these Olympics and what he did was very impressive,” said Klaebo after Desloges won his second silver medal behind him. “He’s taken huge steps the last couple of seasons and it’s cool to have the French guys up there fighting for the podiums.”

Desloges will be backed up by team-mates Theo Schely, Hugo Lapalus and Victor Lovera. “Collectively, all the athletes and staff have never been as strong as this,” Desloges said on Friday.

“We have a lot of potential, and this medal brings strong emotions because there is so much training, so much pain, so much sacrifice.”

Sweden’s men are yet to win a medal at Milano Cortina, and Johan Haeggstroem, Calle Halfvarsson, William Poromaa and Evin Anger will be hungry to make the podium for the first time in this race since Sweden won gold at Sochi 2014.

However, Switzerland’s Valerio Grond, Nicola Wigger, Beda Klee and Janik Riebli will also mount a challenge having finished ahead of Sweden with the silver medal at the 2025 world championships.

For the full Cross-Country schedule for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games click here.