Norway Shatters Winter Olympics Gold Medal Record in Biathlon | 2026 Milano Cortina Games
- Team Norway continued its dominant performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, breaking its own record for the most gold medals won at a single Games.
- Johannes Dale-Skjevdal secured the gold medal with a flawless shooting performance, hitting all 20 targets and completing the race in 39 minutes and 17.1 seconds.
- The bronze medal went to Philipp Horn of Germany, who also demonstrated strong shooting accuracy, missing only one target.
Team Norway continued its dominant performance at the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, breaking its own record for the most gold medals won at a single Games. The milestone was achieved on with a victory in the men’s 15-kilometer mass start biathlon, bringing their total gold medal count to 17, surpassing the previous record of 16 set at the Beijing Olympics.
Johannes Dale-Skjevdal secured the gold medal with a flawless shooting performance, hitting all 20 targets and completing the race in . His teammate, Sturla Holm Laegreid, followed closely behind, securing the silver medal with only one missed target, finishing just later. Laegreid’s silver marks his fifth medal of the Games.
The bronze medal went to Philipp Horn of Germany, who also demonstrated strong shooting accuracy, missing only one target. However, he was overtaken in the final stretch by Quentin Fillon Maillet of France, who secured the bronze medal behind Dale-Skjevdal. Fillon Maillet had previously won gold in the sprint and was part of the winning teams in the mixed relay and men’s relay events.
The mass start biathlon event features the top 30 biathletes based on World Cup rankings and Olympic performance. Competitors ski five 3-kilometer loops, stopping twice to shoot in the prone and standing positions.
As of , Norway leads the overall medal count with a total of 37 medals, including the record-breaking 17 golds. The United States currently holds second place with 27 medals (9 gold), while the host nation, Italy, is in third place with 27 medals.
Beyond the team success, individual athletes from Norway are also making history. Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has been a standout performer at the Milano Cortina Games, adding five gold medals to his existing tally of five, bringing his total Olympic gold medal count to ten. This achievement places him second only to American swimmer Michael Phelps in the all-time list of Olympic gold medalists.
The continued success of the Norwegian team underscores their strength in winter sports and their meticulous preparation for the Olympic Games. Their dominance in biathlon, cross-country skiing, and other disciplines highlights a national commitment to athletic excellence and a well-developed system for identifying and nurturing talent.
The Winter Olympics, hosted across multiple sites in Lombardy and Northeast Italy, are proving to be a showcase of athletic prowess and national pride. As the Games progress, the competition is expected to intensify, with athletes from around the world vying for coveted medals and the opportunity to etch their names in Olympic history.