Historic Win for Kraevo at Winter Olympics
Teammates and coaches welcomed him with cheers at the finish line. A grin spread across his face as he crossed, leaving his competitor far behind.
Johannes Hesfrod Kraevo, a key player in Norway’s men’s 4×7.5 kilometer relay, etched his name in Olympic history with his ninth gold medal in cross-country skiing, marking a new record for the Winter Games.
The 29-year-old secured his fourth gold at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games, cruising past his fellow Norwegians.
This achievement came just two days after his teammate, Klaebo, also took home his eighth gold medal, tying him with three legendary Norwegian athletes—Marit Björgen, Björn Dahle, and Ole Einar Björndalen, all considered the most decorated in Winter Olympic history.
But now, it’s clear: Kraevo stands alone at the top.
“I really like the sound of that,” Klaebo remarked gleefully post-race. “It’s such a unique title. But what matters most is that we did this together as a team. Winning the relay is crucial in Norway, and everyone came through today.”
Klaebo’s rise began eight years ago at the Pyeongchang Games, where he became the youngest Olympic champion in cross-country skiing at just 21. His previous golds include wins in the men’s sprint, 4x10km relay, and the men’s team sprint.
Since then, he seems to just keep improving. In the 2022 Beijing Games, he claimed two golds, a silver, and a bronze.
This time around, though, he was unbeatable yet again.
After a disappointing 40th place in the skiathlon at the last Winter Olympics, he bounced back spectacularly in Italy, also winning the men’s 10km race, sprint, and, of course, the relay.
And, excitingly, he isn’t done yet. Kraevo still has the men’s team sprint and the men’s 50km mass start to compete in, which could push his gold medal tally to an impressive eleven.
2026 Winter Olympics
This marks the second time he’s swept all six events at a major international competition, having achieved that at last year’s world championships.
Known for his blazing uphill speed, his performance has been the talk of the town—particularly how he seems unfazed by the steep inclines.
In last week’s sprint finals, he clocked in at 11.1 mph uphill, equivalent to under six minutes per mile.
Klaebo’s dominance continues to be remarkable. It’s hard not to feel thankful for witnessing it all.
