The 2026 Olympics in Italy elevated Klebo to the "dream of the greats" // Photo: gazzetta.it
The fate of the first place in the mass start was decided a few hundred meters before the finish line. Klebo broke away from compatriot Martin Lövström Nyengeth and crossed the finish line first. It took him 2 hours 6 minutes 44.8 seconds to cover the distance.
Nyengeth was second, finishing 8.9 seconds behind the Olympic champion. Another Norwegian, Emil Iversen, was third. He was 30.7 seconds behind.
He didn’t make it to the half-century mark
Klebo broke the record of American speed skater Eric Hayden, who won five gold medals out of a possible five at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid (USA).
Before winning the mass start, the 29-year-old Norwegian was the best in the sprint classic style, skiathlon, 10-kilometer individual race, men’s 4×7.5 km relay and team sprint. Thus, he won six gold medals out of a possible six.
The others are far behind
In total, he won 11 gold medals at three Olympics during his career – five times he won the competition at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang (South Korea) and in 2022 in Beijing (China).
After winning the men’s relay on Feb. 16, Klebo became the most decorated athlete in Winter Olympics history. His closest pursuers, Norwegians Ole Einar Bjørndalen (biathlon), Marit Bjørgen and Bjørn Daly (both cross-country skiing), won eight Olympic medals during their careers. They have finished their professional careers.
Of the current athletes, the closest to Klebo are German luge skiers Tobias Arlt and Tobias Wendl, who are seven-time Olympic champions.
Second among all Olympic champions
If the champions of both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games are taken into account, Klebo ranks second. The American swimmer, 23-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps, is in first place by a large margin. The athlete ended his professional career in 2016.
