Most gold medals in Olympics history: How Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo's record compares to Michael Phelps

Milano Cortina, Italy — Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo etched his name deeper into Olympic lore on Friday, powering to victory in the men’s 10-kilometre interval start and collecting his eighth career gold medal. The performance lifts the 29-year-old into a historic four-way tie atop the Winter Games leaderboard, matching fellow Norwegian icons Bjørn Dæhlie, Ole Einar Bjørndalen and Marit Bjørgen.

With three events remaining on his 2026 Olympic schedule — beginning with Sunday’s men’s relay — Klaebo has a clear path to become the outright most successful Winter Olympian of all time.

The quartet of Norwegian legends now share the record of eight gold medals, a benchmark that has stood as the Winter benchmark since Dæhlie first reached the mark in the 1990s. Klaebo, the youngest of the group and the only one still active, achieved the milestone on 13 February 2026, reinforcing his reputation as a versatile threat in both sprint and distance disciplines.

Bjørgen, nicknamed “Iron Marit,” retired in 2018 with 15 total medals, including eight golds, collected across five Games. Bjørndalen’s 13-medal haul features eight golds and highlights a biathlon dynasty that included a perfect sweep of men’s events at Salt Lake City 2002. Dæhlie, the original standard-bearer, earned 12 medals in just three Olympics, his final gold coming in a dramatic 50-kilometre race at Nagano 1998.

While Klaebo chases sole possession of the Winter record, the overall Olympic gold standard remains in the pool. American swimmer Michael Phelps amassed 23 career gold medals, 13 of them in individual events — a total that eclipses the entire gold-medal count of any other athlete in history. Phelps also set the benchmark for single-Games dominance, winning eight golds at Beijing 2008 to break Mark Spitz’s 36-year-old record of seven.

Analysts note that Winter athletes face a smaller menu of events and relays, making multi-medal sweeps rarer. Yet Klaebo’s current form suggests history could be rewritten before the Milano Cortina cauldron is extinguished.

With every start, the Norwegian star moves closer to a record that once seemed untouchable — and closer to a Winter legacy that would stand alone.