Norwegian skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo clinched his 10th gold medal in cross-country skiing at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, setting a new record for the Winter Games. Racing alongside Einar Hedegart, Klæbo secured his fifth gold at the 2026 Games on Wednesday in the men’s team sprint event, finishing in 18 minutes and 28.9 seconds. The United States’ Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher claimed the silver medal, trailing by 1.4 seconds, while Italy’s Elia Barp and Federico Pellegrino settled for the bronze, 3.3 seconds behind.
“It’s incredibly satisfying to achieve this,” said the 29-year-old Klæbo. “The team sprint is both enjoyable and challenging.” Klæbo has emerged victorious in every race he has participated in at these Games, shattering the Winter Olympics record during Sunday’s 4×7.5-kilometer relay.
Klæbo’s final event will be the 50-kilometer mass start over the weekend. Reflecting on the competition, Klæbo noted, “With numerous strong teams and fast skiers, the races are always intense battles, making the victories even more fulfilling.” In the women’s category, Sweden’s Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist continued Sweden’s winning streak.
Switzerland’s Nadja Kaelin and Nadine Faehndrich secured the silver medal, with Laura Gimmler and Coletta Rydzek of Germany taking home the bronze. The Norwegian team narrowly missed the podium, finishing in fourth place.
Dahlqvist expressed her joy and relief, stating, “We have a really strong team with five or six girls who could have competed in the team sprint today. I’m delighted to secure a gold medal for the entire team.” Meanwhile, American skier Jessie Diggins led the pack early in the race but ultimately finished fifth alongside her partner Julia Kern.
During the heats, a dog unexpectedly entered the track while the women’s races were ongoing, running alongside the athletes as they crossed the finish line. Despite the disruption, the competition continued smoothly, and the dog received cheers from the spectators. Venue officials revealed that a spectator had brought the dog into the venue against regulations. The dog was safely contained near the finish line, and its owner was escorted out of the area.