And finally came the coronation.
Johannes Klaebo, 29, lined up at the start of each of the six men’s cross-country skiing events at the 2026 Olympics. He won them all.
First came the skiathon, about 12 miles of skiing in two different styles. Then the sprint, a three-and a half minute dash over four rounds. Then the individual, a time trial. Then he joined his Norwegian teammates for two different relays. Five gold medals for Klaebo.
On Saturday there was a sixth and final event, the mass start, at 31 miles. Could a track, cycling or swimming star win a sprint, a middle-distance race and a marathon? At the Olympics?
Klaebo could. He broke away from the pack with two fellow Norwegians, and the trio left the field well behind early in the race. It became clear that Norway would sweep. But which skier would win gold?
Mile after mile ticked away. With just a few miles to go, Emil Iversen slipped back. That left two, Klaebo and Martin Nyenget.
Klaebo attacked on the final climb and blasted away. It was his sixth gold medal and the 11th of his career. He won every cross-country event there was to win at these Games. His six golds at a single Winter Games is a new record, surpassing Eric Heiden’s five in speedskating at the 1980 Games.
In Pyeongchang in 2018, when Klaebo won a mere three golds, they named a hill after him, the Klaebo bakken. They may want to think about renaming Milan.
Victor Mather, who has been a reporter and editor at The Times for 25 years, covers sports and breaking news.
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