分类： sports

Norwegian cross-country skiing sensation Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has etched his name in Winter Olympic history by capturing an unprecedented sixth gold medal at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games. The 29-year-old phenom achieved this extraordinary feat by dominating the grueling 50km mass start classic event, completing the challenging course in 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 44.8 seconds.

Klaebo’s victory marked a complete Norwegian podium sweep, with teammates Martin Loewstroem Nyenget securing silver and Emil Iversen claiming bronze. Nyenget finished 8.9 seconds behind the champion, earning his third medal of the competition.

This historic performance surpasses the previous record of five gold medals set by American speed skater Eric Heiden at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. Klaebo now boasts 11 Winter Olympic gold medals overall, establishing himself as the first athlete to win all six cross-country skiing events at a single Games. Among all Olympians, only swimming legend Michael Phelps, with 23 gold medals, stands above Klaebo’s remarkable achievement.

Reflecting on his accomplishment, Klaebo told BBC Sport: ‘It’s been crazy, it’s a dream come true. I really think this Olympics has been perfect. Being able to crown the Olympics with the 50km was unbelievable.’

The Norwegian champion’s journey to skiing greatness began when he moved to Trondheim as a child, a region renowned for its cross-country skiing trails. His dominance extends beyond the Olympics, with an incredible 116 World Cup victories and 15 world championship titles to his name.

Meanwhile, Team GB’s Andrew Musgrave delivered a respectable sixth-place finish, nearly four minutes behind Klaebo, while teammate Joe Davies placed 16th. The 35-year-old Musgrave, competing in his fifth Olympics, humorously remarked about potentially competing in his sixth Games: ‘I’m still young and promising.’

Despite limited resources, the British cross-country team celebrated their most successful Olympic performance to date, including a fifth-place finish in the team sprint event—the nation’s best result in the sport.

BORMIO, Italy — France’s Emily Harrop and Thibault Anselmet secured a monumental victory in the inaugural Olympic mixed relay ski mountaineering event at the Milan Cortina Games on Saturday. The duo dominated the challenging Stelvio course with a commanding performance, finishing in 26 minutes and 57.44 seconds to claim the sport’s first Olympic mixed relay gold medal.

The French team established an early advantage that they maintained throughout the four-lap race, with Harrop setting a punishing pace on the initial leg. Their seamless transitions and technical mastery proved decisive on the demanding circuit that combined grueling ascents and technical descents. Anselmet’s confidence was evident as he began celebrating well before the finish line, raising his arms in triumph during the final descent.

Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton and Jon Kistler mounted a strong challenge, particularly during the final exchange where Fatton narrowed the gap significantly. However, Anselmet responded with exceptional composure on the decisive lap, ultimately securing victory by 11.86 seconds. The Spanish pairing of Ana Alonso Rodriguez and Oriol Cardona Coll captured bronze, adding to Cardona Coll’s individual sprint gold from Thursday’s historic competition.

American competitors Anna Gibson and Cameron Smith delivered a respectable performance, finishing just off the podium in fourth position. The event showcased ski mountaineering’s unique demands, requiring athletes to navigate multiple transitions between skin-equipped ascents and high-speed descents while carrying their equipment.

The mixed relay format featured alternating male and female athletes completing two laps each, with a total course length of 1,410 meters including approximately 137 meters of elevation gain. Athletes faced the additional challenge of staircase sections where they carried their skis while running in ski boots—a signature element of ski mountaineering competition.

This event marks the second medal ceremony for ski mountaineering following its formal inclusion in the Olympic program in 2021, solidifying the sport’s place in winter sports tradition with its blend of endurance, technical skill, and strategic teamwork.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Germany’s Johannes Lochner has positioned himself as the commanding frontrunner after the initial two heats of the four-man bobsled competition at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Lochner and his crew—Thorsten Margis, Jorn Wenzel, and Georg Fleischhauer—completed their Saturday runs with a combined time of 1:48.61, establishing a substantial 0.43-second advantage over compatriot Francesco Friedrich, the reigning four-time Olympic champion.

Lochner acknowledged some technical difficulties during their second descent but expressed overall satisfaction with their performance. ‘The first run was exceptional,’ Lochner commented. ‘We encountered challenges during the second run, particularly at the start and through the mid-section. Nevertheless, we’re pleased with our current standing.’

Germany currently occupies all three podium positions at the competition’s midpoint, with Adam Ammour sitting in third position, 0.59 seconds behind Lochner. Ammour’s impressive second-heat performance, which registered as the fastest time of that round, prevented Lochner from maintaining his perfect record at the Cortina track.

For Team USA, Kris Horn made his Olympic debut after missing the two-man competition due to insufficient World Cup qualifications. Horn and his team of Caleb Furnell, Hunter Powell, and Carsten Vissering currently hold ninth position, precisely one second behind the leader but within striking distance of medal contention. ‘We had an extended break,’ Horn noted. ‘I was concerned about maintaining my driving form.’

American flagbearer Frank Del Duca, who started from the disadvantageous 27th position, sits in 12th place with his team. Del Duca described the challenges of competing on deteriorated ice conditions: ‘The ice maintenance crew performs exceptionally, but with sleds weighing approximately 1,400 pounds generating over 4 Gs of force at 85 mph, the surface becomes significantly altered.’

The competition witnessed concerning developments during the second heat when Austrian pilot Jakob Mandlbauer lost control of his sled, resulting in a crash that required medical evacuation. Austrian officials confirmed Mandlbauer maintained movement in his extremities while he underwent hospital evaluation. Additional crashes involved teams from France and Trinidad and Tobago, eliminating them from Sunday’s final heats.

The medal-deciding runs scheduled for Sunday will determine whether Lochner can join the exclusive group of six pilots who have achieved Olympic gold in both two-man and four-man bobsled events during the same Games.