Klaebo closes on Winter Games all-time gold tally and Sweden sweeps women’s cross-country sprint
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
TESERO, Italy (AP) — Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo blazed to his second consecutive victory at the Milan Cortina Games in the cross-country sprint Tuesday and his seventh gold medal closed in on the Winter Olympics record.
The Norwegian star separated from the field with a punishing late uphill run. He eased off in the home stretch, waving to supporters, and allowed Ben Ogden of the United States to finish 0.8 seconds behind for the silver. Another Norwegian, Oskar Opstad Vike, placed third, 6.8 seconds behind the leader.
Linn Svahn led a Swedish sweep in the women’s final by edging defending Olympic champion Jonna Sundling by 1.5 seconds with Maja Dahlqvist in third place in a race watched by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
Top-ranked Jessie Diggins of the United States was eliminated in the quarterfinals, compounding her disappointment after a fall in her opening race last weekend.
Klaebo could compete in four more individual and team events at Milan Cortina. His seven Winter Olympics gold medals are one shy of the all-time record shared by three retired compatriots: Marit Bjoergen and Bjoern Daehlie in cross-country skiing and Ole Einar Bjoerndalen in biathlon.
After his latest triumph, the world’s top-ranked cross-country skier acknowledged that some of the pressure he felt at the start of the Games has lifted.
“It was amazing,” Klaebo said. “My shape is good and I was a little bit more relaxed before this race than I was before Sunday.” Ogden grabbed his country’s first individual Olympic sprint medal in cross country but said it was Klaebo’s race to lose.
“Unbelievable, unbelievable. I’m just so thrilled,” the Vermont native said. “I’m proud to be the first in the sprint but there will be more, don’t you worry.” Klaebo high-fived and hugged Norway fans after his race, among them his fiancé Pernille Doesvik, who wore a jacket bearing a large image of the champion skier.
But it was the Swedish fans who had the most to celebrate, singing the national anthem while their women skiers stood on all three podium places. “I have the best team and the best teammates,” Sundling said. “We always push each other to be better.”
___
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics