CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo insists the 10-kilometer race is the distance he struggles with most because it forces him to race the clock instead of another competitor.
Funny, it didn't look like it at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Friday.
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Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, waves after winning the gold medal in the cross country skiing men's 10km interval start free at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Bronze medalist Sturla Holm Laegreid, of Norway, poses after the men's 10-kilometer sprint biathlon race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Anterselva, Italy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Gold medalist Australia's Josie Baff kisses her medal after winning the women's snowboard cross finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
FILE - Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, celebrates after winning the men's cross-country skiing sprint classic at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
The 29-year-old Norwegian star made his trademark late surge to win the interval-start race. His time of 20 minutes, 36.2 seconds gave him his eighth career gold medal, tying fellow countrymen Marit Bjoergen, Bjoern Daehlie and Ole Einar Bjoerndalen for the most ever at the Winter Olympics.
The all-time mark could soon be Klaebo's alone. He's scheduled to compete three more times at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium.
On a warm day that left some skiers racing only in their bibs, Klaebo paced himself over the first half of the race before pouring it on late. The result was his third gold since arriving in Italy, and a small nod to the toll it's taking. Klaebo fell into the snow shortly after crossing the finish line.
"It’s a special day,” Klaebo said. “This one means a lot for sure ... I’m lost for words.”
Norwegian biathlete Strula Holm Laegreid added a second bronze medal in four days when he made the podium in the sprint.
This time, Laegreid opted not to share details of his personal life with the world. That wasn't the case when he earned bronze in the 20-kilometer individual race on Tuesday. His stunning personal confession overshadowed the victory in that event by fellow countryman Johan-Olav Botn. Laegreid later apologized.
While the fallout of his disclosure became among the most talked-about stories during the first week of the Games, Laegreid tried to put his head down and simply get back to work.
"I tried to do biathlon and I just focus on the right thing at the right time,” said Laegreid, who finished 15.9 seconds behind gold medalist Fillon Maillet of France. “Focus on the skiing and the course. Focus on the shooting in the range and it paid off.”
Snowboarder Josie Baff gave Australia its second gold medal of the Games when she stormed to victory in the women's snowboardcross.
The 23-year-old Baff, who finished a distant 18th in Beijing four years ago, beat Eva Adamczykova of the Czech Republic and Italy’s Michela Moioli to the finish line. Baff, the 2020 World Junior Champion, is currently the second-ranked racer in the world.
Cooper Woods earned Australia's first gold in Italy by triumphing in men's moguls earlier this week.
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, waves after winning the gold medal in the cross country skiing men's 10km interval start free at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Bronze medalist Sturla Holm Laegreid, of Norway, poses after the men's 10-kilometer sprint biathlon race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Anterselva, Italy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Gold medalist Australia's Josie Baff kisses her medal after winning the women's snowboard cross finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
FILE - Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, celebrates after winning the men's cross-country skiing sprint classic at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Zimbabwe remained unbeaten against Australia at T20 World Cups after a surprising and comfortable 23-run win on Friday.
Defending 169, seamers Blessing Muzarabani grabbed a career-best 4-17 and Brad Evans 3-23 to help dismiss Australia for 146 in 19.3 overs.
Zimbabwe's second victory from two matches left Australia — the 2021 champion and perennial white-ball contender — needing to beat co-host Sri Lanka and Oman to advance from Group B.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates and United States registered their second wins in T20 World Cup history.
The UAE beat Canada by five wickets in New Delhi and the U.S. routed the Netherlands by 93 runs in Chennai.
Zimbabwe shocked Australia in their only previous T20 World Cup match in 2007, a freak five-wicket win in Cape Town. But 19 years later the contest was stunning for how much Zimbabwe dominated.
Zimbabwe lost only two wickets batting. Opener Brian Bennett earlier anchored with an unbeaten 64 off 56 balls. Tadiwanashe Marumani (35) and Ryan Burl (35) contributed and captain Sikandar Raza’s late acceleration (25 off 13 deliveries) was crucial in reaching 169-2.
The game was as good as over when Zimbabwe reduced Australia to 29-4 after 4.3 overs of the chase. Muzarabani and Evans did the damage and returned to finish what they started.
Matt Renshaw, playing in his first T20 World Cup, scored a fighting 65 off 44 balls into the 19th over and partnered with Glenn Maxwell, who struggled for 31 off 32.
“I was bowling to some of the best players in the world, so I am really happy it came off really nice,” said Muzarabani, who also reached 100 wickets in T20s. “Really good to beat Australia, but also (will be) nice to qualify (for the Super 8s), so looking forward to the next game now.”
Zimbabwe is on a mission of redemption after failing to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup, the only full member to miss out. But before this game veteran batter Brendan Taylor was ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury, and during Australia's innings captain Raza left with leg cramps.
Australia was without captain Mitchell Marsh, sidelined for the second successive game due to a testicular injury. When stand-in skipper Travis Head deflected the ball onto his stumps, Australia was four down and in deep trouble.
On a slow pitch the asking rate soared and Zimbabwe didn't allow the batters to break free.
Earlier, Marumani hit seven boundaries to lead Zimbabwe to 61-0 with Bennett, who shared another 60-run stand with Burl.
Opener Aryansh Sharma hit 74 not out off 53 balls to lead UAE across the finish line against Canada. Sharma surpassed Muhammad Waseem’s 66 not out against New Zealand in the previous game for UAE's highest score at a T20 World Cup.
Chasing Canada’s 150-7, the UAE was down to 66-4 as left-arm spinner Saad Bin Zafar rocked the top order with 3-14 in four overs.
Sohaib Khan provided the turning point — 51 off 29 balls with four sixes — and an 84-run stand off 42 balls with Sharma.
Canada was restricted to a below-par score after medium pacer Juniad Siddique picked 5-35, the second best figures in the tournament.
UAE’s only previous T20 World Cup win was against Namibia in 2022.
The U.S. also notched a second win in tournament history after downing Pakistan in 2024.
Saiteja Mukkamalla scored 79 off 51 balls with four sixes and five fours as the U.S. racked up 196-6. Skipper Monank Patel added 36 off 22.
The Dutch hit back through medium pacer Bas de Leede (3-37), but Shubham Rajane countered with 48 not out off 24 balls to propel the score.
The Netherlands collapsed to 103 all out in 15.5 overs.
Left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh took 4-21, medium pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk 3-21 and wrist spinner Mohammad Mohsin 2-19 as the U.S. earned the biggest win by runs — 93 — for an associate at T20 World Cups.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Zimbabwe's Brian Bennett celebrates his fifty runs during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Zimbabwe's Ryan Burl plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Zimbabwe's Blessing Muzarabani celebrates the wicket of Australia's Tim David during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Zimbabwe's Ryan Burl celebrates the wicket of Australia's Glenn Maxwell during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Australia's captain Travis Head, second right, toss the coin as Zimbabwe's captain Sikandar Raza, right, watch it before the starts of the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
