As the curtain prepares to fall on the Milano Cortina 2026 on Sunday, the Games will leave behind new champions, breakthrough nations, and defining performances, with Norway once again asserting its supremacy on the winter stage.

Klæbo Rewrites the Record Books

At the heart of Norway’s dominance stands Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who delivered one of the most remarkable campaigns in Winter Olympic history.

Klæbo claimed his sixth gold medal of the Games by winning the men’s 50km mass start classic, stopping the clock at 2:07:07.1. He surged clear on the final hill to defeat compatriot Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget by 17.5 seconds, while Emil Iversen completed an all-Norwegian podium, 46.2 seconds behind.

The victory made Klæbo the first athlete in any sport to win six gold medals at a single Winter Olympics. With 10 Olympic gold medals overall and 13 total medals, he has further cemented his legacy as one of the most decorated cross-country skiers of all time.

“It’s hard to find the words. It’s unbelievable,” Klæbo said when asked about winning all six men’s cross-country events at the Games. “After the world champs last year, we knew that it was possible, but to be able to do it — it’s hard to find the right words — and there were so many emotions when I crossed the finish line.

“It’s a lot of sacrifices, but on the other hand, when you’re starting to feel that it’s sacrifices, I think it’s time to find something else to do,” he explained. “There are choices to make, and we’ve made all the right choices this year. Mentally, I’ve been in a better place than I was last year,r and I have a lot of fun racing out there now.”

“Even though I’ve been nervous at some of the competitions, it still feels really good to race, and I’m always looking forward to going out there, fighting for the medals. I have a very supportive family and fiancée, and together we’re making the right choices. The result of that is six gold medals.”

Norway’s podium sweep in the 50km marked its 14th Winter Olympic sweep in history. The three medals pushed Norway’s total to 40 at Milano Cortina, surpassing its previous Winter Games best of 39 set at PyeongChang 2018.

Medal Table: Norway Leads, USA Second

Norway finished atop the standings with 18 gold medals and 40 overall medals. The United States Olympic Team held second place with 11 golds and 32 total medals. Canada stood 11th with 20 medals, including five gold.

In a historic breakthrough, Brazil became the first South American nation to win a gold medal at a Winter Olympics.

Australia’s Breakthrough Games

Australia emerged as one of the standout stories of Milano Cortina 2026. With six medals, including three gold, the country recorded its best-ever Winter Olympic performance. All three titles came in snow events, underlining the nation’s growing competitiveness in winter sports.

Canada’s Mixed Fortunes

For the Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Games produced both triumph and frustration.

Canada captured its fifth gold medal when Team Brad Jacobs defeated Great Britain’s Bruce Mouat 9-6 in the men’s curling final. Jacobs, who also won gold in 2014, became the first men’s skip to claim two Olympic gold medals. The victory marked Canada’s first Olympic men’s curling gold since 2014 and its 20th overall medal at Milano Cortina.

Earlier, Team Rachel Homan secured bronze in women’s curling with a 10-7 win over the United States. It was Homan’s first Olympic medal after previous appearances in 2018 and 2022. Canada outcurled the Americans 89-79 percent in the match and scored eight of its 10 points in the final five ends. The medal marked Canada’s first women’s curling podium finish since Jennifer Jones’ gold at Sochi 2014.

On the speedskating oval, Ivanie Blondin of Ottawa earned silver in the women’s mass start, her second medal of the Games. Blondin, along with Valérie Maltais and Isabelle Weidemann, had earlier defended Canada’s Olympic title in the women’s team pursuit. Canada finished with five long-track speedskating medals in Milan.

Ice Hockey Finale Awaits

Attention now turns to the men’s ice hockey final, where Canada and the United States will contest gold in a marquee showdown between North America’s traditional rivals. The highly anticipated clash is expected to draw global attention, with reports suggesting U.S. President Donald Trump may attend.

As Milano Cortina 2026 concludes, Norway’s dominance and Klæbo’s historic feat will headline the legacy of these Games, while emerging nations and established powers alike depart Italy with milestones that will shape the next chapter of Winter Olympic history.

Related posts:

Canada’s Win Highlights Midway Stage as Kingsbury Claims Gold at Milano Cortina 2026 Milano Cortina 2026 Day 7: Klaebo Ties Winter Olympic Gold Record, Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov Wins Gold Milano-Cortina 2026 Opens with Dual Cauldrons, Historic Venues, and a Global Call for Respect Milano Cortina 2026 Day 10: Sarault Wins Third Medal as U.S.–Canada Women’s Hockey Final Set