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Norway is certainly the most powerful country in winter sports, especially within Northern Europe. It has accumulated a total of 405 medals—148 gold, 134 silver, and 123 bronze—throughout all Winter Olympic Games, far surpassing the United States, which has 330 medals (114 gold, 121 silver, 95 bronze). The key factor contributing to this success is cross-country skiing and biathlon. Norway has won 52 out of 182 gold medals (28.6%) ever given in cross-country skiing and 22 out of 96 gold medals (22.9%) in biathlon.

Norway’s winter sports icons also came from these areas. The athletes who have won the most Olympic gold medals are all from Norway, each achieving eight. Marit Bieo-yeom, 46, a renowned cross-country skier, holds the record for the most Winter Olympic medals (15: 8 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze). Ole Einar Bieo-dalren, 52, considered the greatest biathlete in history, and Bjørn Deli, 59, a cross-country skiing icon, each reached the podium eight times, causing the Norwegian national anthem to be played.

Johannes Hoesupeullo Klebo, 30, is the leading candidate to challenge Norway’s supremacy at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, which commenced on the 6th. Born in Trondheim, recognized as the origin of Nordic skiing, Klebo first experienced snow at the age of two using skis passed down from his grandfather. At 15, he told his family, “I want to be the best in the world.” With focused, structured training, he quickly improved his abilities.

Klebo became well-known during the 2017–2018 World Cup season after securing nine wins. At the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, he made history as the youngest male athlete to win a gold medal in the sport by claiming three titles: individual sprint, team sprint, and 4×10 km relay. He won two additional gold medals in the individual and team sprints at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Klebo’s talent is particularly evident in his quick acceleration, especially his “Klebo shuffle”—a rhythmic, short-step method used for ascending slopes. This earned him the title “Usain Bolt of cross-country skiing.”

Recently, Klebo has concentrated on high-altitude training to significantly enhance his endurance, evolving into a formidable skier who excels in both short and long-distance events. The World Championships held in his hometown, Trondheim, last year showcased his progress. He won six events: individual sprint, team sprint, 4×7.5 km relay, 10 km classic, 20 km skiathlon, and the 50 km freestyle mass start, known as cross-country’s marathon. *The Athletic* remarked, “Klebo’s achievement of winning both short and long-distance events at the World Championships drew comparisons to Shohei Ohtani, who made history in Major League Baseball as a two-way player.” Klebo is set to participate in six events at this Olympics. If he secures four or more gold medals, along with his existing five Olympic golds, he will break the record for the most Winter Olympic gold medals ever.

The 39-year-old twin brothers from Germany, Tobias Bendle and Tobias Areulteu, are striving to match the record of eight Olympic gold medals at this event. They are referred to as the “Two Tobias” or the “Bavarian Express” due to their base in Bavaria, and have been working in unison for more than two decades. The pair has won gold in the two-man luge and mixed team relay at the 2014 Sochi, 2018 PyeongChang, and 2022 Beijing Olympics, securing three consecutive doubles of gold medals.

Bendle, the front driver, observes the track conditions and sets the entry angles, while Areulteu, the back driver, maintains the sled’s balance. The pair has secured three straight World Cup championships, hinting at a possible fourth Olympic victory. Although cross-country skiing and biathlon provide more chances for medals, luge’s fewer gold opportunities heighten the duo’s potential for setting new records.