Superhuman. Greatest of all time. The best we will ever see.
These are all titles that have been ascribed to Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, the Norwegian cross-country skier who is now the winningest athlete in the history of the Winter Olympic Games.
Both revered and feared by his competitors, Klaebo has asserted himself as the undisputed man to beat in cross-country skiing. “King Klaebo,” as he has come to be known, had already won three gold medals at the Milan Cortina Games as of Sunday morning. He joined elite company on Feb. 13 with a victory in the 10km free, tying the record for most career Winter Olympic gold medals.
The job, however, was not finished. After Norway's win in the men's 4x7.5km relay on Sunday, Klaebo surpassed his fellow Winter Olympic legends and now holds the gold medal title all on his own.
"It feels amazing,” he said. “I’m not sure if I’ve ever dreamed about it either, it’s just something that I’m really proud of.
“I’ve just tried to enjoy the moments today. Being able to do that and take the ninth one with the team is special, and [there] couldn’t be a better way to do that.”
How did Klaebo become the king?
Klaebo has been a big name in the cross-country skiing world for nearly a decade now. He burst onto the scene during the 2017-18 season, becoming the youngest male athlete in history to win the cross-country World Cup overall title. Klaebo made his Olympic debut in 2018, winning three gold medals at the PyeongChang Games. He followed up the success with two golds, a silver and a bronze at the 2022 Beijing Games.
Klaebo has also won 15 world titles. The 29-year-old has been coached by his grandfather, Kaare Hoesflot, since he was 15.
"He’s 83 years old, but still the most innovative guy that I know," Klaebo said. "He’s reading books and all kinds of science to learn, be up there, and to see what we can improve all the time, and that’s special. He was the one waxing my skis when I was younger, making the plans, driving me back and forth to training, everything. He’s been a really big support and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him."
Who did Klaebo pass on the list of all-time greats?
When Klaebo won his eighth gold medal on Friday, he tied a trio of Norwegian athletes who all retired with eight gold medals to their name — cross-country skiers Marit Bjorgen and Bjorn Daehlie, as well as biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen.
Bjorgen is the most recent retiree, having finished her Olympic career at the 2018 Games. The five-time Olympian did not win gold until her third Olympic appearance at the 2010 Vancouver Games, but it was there that the floodgates opened. Bjorgen won a medal in all five events she competed in, including three golds. She finished her career with 15 total medals, making her the most decorated Winter Olympian in history — a title she still holds to this day.
Bjorndalen, a six-time Olympian, had the most successful Winter Olympic Games of his career in 2002 at Salt Lake City. There, he went four-for-four, winning a gold medal in every event he competed in. Bjorndalen finished his career with 14 total medals — eight gold, four silver and two bronze.
Daehlie was first on the Norwegian Olympic skiing team at the 1998 Calgary Games, but he did not participate in any races. Across the next three Winter Olympic Games, Daehlie secured 12 total medals — eight gold and four silver.
"It’s huge to have gone past them,” Klaebo said, adding, "It was great to share the top with them for a couple of days, and even better to be at the top alone. For sure, it’s a big achievement."
What they're saying
Among teammates and competitors alike, there is an immense amount of respect for Klaebo and the unprecedented level of success he has achieved in the sport.
Following Sunday’s win in the men's relay, Klaebo's teammate, fellow gold medalist and training partner Emil Iversen was quick to attribute some of his own success to training alongside Klaebo.
"I want to be him,” he said, joking, “I’m a little bit better looking, but I’m a little slower in the [ski] loop. [Looks] is the only thing I can take him on.
"It’s been a really nice year and I’m grateful to get the chance to train with the best skier of all time."
Here are what others have said about Klaebo:
Mathis Desloges (FRA) — silver in men's 10km free
“To finish only five seconds behind him bodes well for the future. I’m a big admirer of everything he has done for our sport and this gives me heart to keep fighting and training so I can beat him.”
Einar Hedegart (NOR) — bronze in men's 10km free
"People will have to show their A-plus plus game in the 50km to even come close to him. It was kind of unfortunate that today he decided to show up and beat me. But the world has had its eyes opened to his extreme capacity now. His level is just insanely high.”
Ben Ogden (USA) — silver in men's sprint classic
"There’s obviously a few fewer gold medals up for grabs when you race against Johannes, but all of us dream of having the stiffest competition and the best people to hold ourselves to the best standard. When you have to face Johannes in every single race, you know that you have to bring the best version of yourself and bring your A game, and you have to keep dreaming."
Oskar Opstad Vike (NOR) — bronze in men's sprint classic
"He is the G.O.A.T. by far and it’s amazing to share this podium with him. He’s the best skier of all time, so taking my first medal beside him, it couldn’t have been better."
Theo Schely (FRA) — silver in men's 4x7.5km relay
“I think it’s unbelievable. The cross-country world is not realizing that he’s the G.O.A.T. in the whole sport, the best skier we will ever see. He’s good at everything — sleeping, nutrition, downhill, climbs. Also training, but it’s genetics for sure.”
What's next?
More history could be in store for Klaebo at Milan Cortina. He is set to compete in two more events at the 2026 Games — the men’s team sprint free on Wednesday, Feb. 18, and the men’s 50km mass start classic on Saturday, Feb. 21.
Having won a silver and bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Games, Klaebo has won a total of 11 Olympic medals. If he wins a medal of any color in either of his upcoming events, he will become one of just five athletes to reach the podium at least 12 times at a Winter Olympics. The other four athletes include the aforementioned trio of Norwegian legends, as well as the Netherlands’ Ireen Wuest, a speed skater who won 13 total Olympic medals.
With one more gold medal, Klaebo would join American swimmer Michael Phelps as the only Olympians to win 10 or more gold medals. He would also tie U.S. speedskater Eric Heiden for the most gold medals won at one Winter Olympics. At the 1980 Lake Placid Games, Heiden swept the speed skating events, a performance that has never been replicated.
If Klaebo were to top the podium in each of his upcoming events, he would become the first Winter Olympian to ever win six gold medals at one Games.
