Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo is poised to run the table of cross-country skiing events at the Olympics this year as he prepares for the men’s 50km classic on Saturday, Klaebo's final event at Milan Cortina.

With his once-in-a-generation talent, Klaebo could be the first athlete to win six medals of any color at a single Winter Games. He already joined the elite company of Michael Phelps as the only two Olympians to win 10 or more career gold medals.

In the 50km classic, sometimes called the “ski marathon,” athletes ski six laps around an 8.3km (5.15-mile) course for a total distance of 31.1 miles. The event begins with a mass start with the highest-ranked athletes in the front positions. The first skier to cross the finish line is the winner.

Klaebo’s stats in the 50km are mixed. He was the 2025 world champion and has two recent World Cup 50km classic race wins. He also has a disqualification at the 2021 worlds and memorably abandoned the course mid-race at Beijing 2022 after not feeling good. In fact, “King Klaebo” has never won the 50km race on the Olympic stage, but as he proved in the skiathlon, his past performances won’t stop him.  

There is a chance the 50km race could result in an all-Norway podium after the country swept the 50km in all four World Cups in this Olympic Cycle. Martin Loewstroem Nyenget is the most likely to join Klaebo on the podium, as a strong long-distance skier who won bronze in the skiathlon. Einar Hedegart, who won the team sprint with Klaebo, and Oskar Opstad Vike, who won bronze in the men’s sprint classic, are also in the running.

Another country to watch for is Italy whose hunger for medals on home snow has launched them to bronze in the men’s 4x7.5km relay and men’s team sprint free.

At Milan Cortina, the American men have proven their prowess in sprint events with a silver medal in the sprint classic and team sprint free. In this long-distance event, Gus Schumacher, Ben Ogden, and team members will aim to wrap their historic Olympics with a strong finish.