Norway cross-country star Klaebo wins 9th gold medal, setting a Winter Olympics record

TESERO, Italy (AP) — A wave to the crowd, a glide across the line — and a moment of Winter Olympic history.

Norway cross-country skiing star Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo won his ninth gold medal, setting a Winter Games record.

The 29‑year‑old anchored Sunday’s 4 x 7.5-kilometer relay in the men’s competition for his fourth gold of the Milan Cortina Olympics.

He had shared the record with three retired Norwegian athletes: cross-country skiers Marit Bjoergen and Bjoern Daehlie and biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen.

He now stands alone at the top.

“I like the sound of that! It’s a pretty nice title,” Klaebo said after the race.

“But it’s special to do this together with this group. In Norway, winning the relay is what really matters — and today we all delivered,” he said. “We’ve had so much fun — both here and at training camps throughout the year. It’s been a great season. Today, even though everyone was nervous, there was still a relaxed atmosphere.”

France continued its strong performance for second place, 22.2 seconds behind, while Italy placed third with a 47.9 second lag.

Klaebo put in a flawless but casual-looking race, slowing down before the finish to wave to cheering supporters before finishing in 1 hour, 4 minutes and 24.5 seconds.

Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre was at the stadium at Val di Fiemme, in north Italy's Dolomites, on his feet cheering as Klaebo crossed the line.

“With today’s team effort, Klaebo becomes the Winter Olympian of all time!” Støre wrote on social media.

“Today it’s fun to be Norwegian in Val di Fiemme! Congratulations on the relay gold to Emil Iversen, Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, Einar Hedegart and Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo,” he wrote.

Despite fierce rivalry in competition, fans from Sweden and Norway mingled in the stands and enjoyed a party atmosphere.

Norway fan Oddmund Haughness traveled to Italy to watch his team and cheer on his former school classmate Hedegart, who raced the third freestyle leg for the Norwegians.

“It's awesome. We're so glad!” Haughness said. “We knew we could count on Johannes when he started 12 seconds ahead of France. Johannes is just amazing — probably the best cross-country skier of all time.”

Squandering a strong start, the United States finished sixth behind Finland and Canada. Sweden suffered another setback in the relays finishing last, in 10th place after a slow start.

A first-leg crash in the women's relay Saturday cost Sweden more than a minute's delay but they fought back for second place behind main rival Norway.

Skies cleared overnight for the race Sunday, delighting the home crowd. Italy finished with Federico Pellegrino, who is racing in his final season. He celebrated with fans, dancing to Italian pop classics played on a trumpet.

“This is something that I was dreaming of for a long time,” Pellegrino said. “I think two years ago, when I started to think about the home Olympics and see teammates increase in their level, the dream became a goal and today we achieved it. It’s something! Maybe the thing that I’m the most proud of in my career.”

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, center, joins his teammates Emil Iversen, Martin Loewstroem Nyenget and Einar Hedegart after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal in the cross country skiing men's 4 x 7.5km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Gold medalists Norway celebrate on the podium flanked by silver medalists France, left, and bronze medalists Italy after the cross country skiing men's 4 x 7.5km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Silver medalists France, gold medalists Norway and bronze medalists Italy pose on the podium of the cross country skiing men's 4 x 7.5km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, leads Victor Lovera, of France, left, during the cross country skiing men's 4 x 7.5km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, competes in the cross country skiing men's 4 x 7.5km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, competes in the cross country skiing men's 4 x 7.5km relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Federica Brignone was taking in the magnitude of winning a second gold of her home Winter Olympics when the two silver-medalists approached the Italian skiing star in the finish area, dropped to their knees and bowed toward her.

Call her the Queen of the Dolomites.

The 35-year-old Brignone couldn’t walk for three months early last year. Now she is a double Olympic champion after winning the giant slalom with some ease on Sunday, barely 72 hours after powering to a downhill title that she felt was like something out of a Hollywood movie.

She delivered quite the sequel, taking a lead of 0.34 seconds after the first run and then putting in a clean second run in gorgeous conditions amid the jagged peaks of the Dolomite mountains above Cortina.

Brignone finished 0.62 seconds ahead of defending champion Sara Hector and Thea Louise Stjernesund, who shared the silver medal.

“That was, like, the greatest show of GS skiing that we’ve had in a really long time,” said U.S. standout Mikaela Shiffrin, who finished in 11th place. “And to do it, you know, at the Olympics where people actually have eyes on the sport. Federica skied incredible. That was so cool to watch.”

It wasn't so joyous for Shiffrin.

The American didn't quite have the speed of Brignone or a number of her rivals in either run on a fairly flat course set by her own head coach, Karin Harjo, and ended 0.92 seconds off the lead. She has now failed to win a medal in eight straight Olympic races since the Winter Games in 2018.

Finishing just 0.30 seconds off second place suggested there might be more to come from Shiffrin, though, and redemption might arrive in her best event — the slalom — on Wednesday.

Indeed, Shiffrin didn't show any outward signs of disappointment after her second run when she already knew she'd be out of the medals, blowing out her cheeks and waving to the fans in the grandstand with both hands.

By that time, the locals were waiting for Brignone to come down the sun-kissed Olympia delle Tofane course for a second gold in four days.

She didn't disappoint.

It completes a stunning comeback for the popular Brignone, who was world champion in the GS in February last year before breaking multiple bones in her left leg in March that required surgery, a handful of screws to repair and left her unable to walk until the summer.

Brignone said after winning downhill gold that a day doesn't go by where she doesn't feel pain, yet she skied through it in a pair of runs her rivals couldn't find fault with.

“She is the kindest, most genuine, athlete on tour,” U.S. skier Paula Moltzan said. “This comeback and to have two gold medals at home is, like, hands down, she’s clearly the best skier in the world right now.”

Before these home Games, Brignone had a silver and two bronzes at the Olympics. Now she has the big one — twice — and the loud home crowd lapped it up, chanting ‘FE-de, FE-de, FE-de’ during the medal ceremony.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course, during an alpine ski, women's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

United States' Mikaela Shiffrin at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Bronze medalist Norway's Thea Louise Stjernesund, right, and silver medalist Sweden's Sara Hector, center, celebrate with gold medal's winner Italy's Federica Brignone, left, following an alpine ski, women's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Sweden's Sara Hector, right, and Norway's Thea Louise Stjernesund bow to Italy's Federica Brignone, center, at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Italy's Federica Brignone celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Italy's Sofia Goggia speeds down the course, during an alpine ski, women's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course, during an alpine ski, women's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Italy's Federica Brignone at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Italy's Federica Brignone competes during an alpine ski, women's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)