Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo claimed victory in the men's 10km interval start freestyle cross-country skiing event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, securing his eighth career gold medal and tying the all-time record. France's Mathis Desloges took silver, while fellow Norwegian Einar Hedegart earned bronze in a race marked by warm conditions in Tesero, Italy. Britain's Andrew Musgrave finished sixth, marking the best result for Great Britain in an Olympic cross-country event.
The men's 10km interval start freestyle race took place on February 13, 2026, at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in northern Italy, under sunny skies with temperatures around 5 degrees Celsius. Athletes started individually, racing against the clock over three laps of the course. Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, aged 29, completed the distance in 20 minutes, 36.2 seconds, pacing himself conservatively in the first half before surging on the final hill to secure his third gold of the Milan-Cortina Games.
Klaebo's win equaled the record held by fellow Norwegians Marit Bjørgen, Bjørn Dæhlie in cross-country skiing, and Ole Einar Bjørndalen in biathlon, all retired athletes with eight golds each. "It’s a special day. This one means a lot for sure ... I’m lost for words," Klaebo said after collapsing at the finish line, showing rare signs of fatigue. He noted the 10km distance as one he struggles with most, as it lacks direct competition, unlike head-to-head races.
Mathis Desloges of France finished 4.9 seconds behind for silver, his second medal of the Games after bronze in the skiathlon. "I trained incredibly hard for these races," Desloges said. Einar Hedegart, a former biathlete on his Olympic debut, led through much of the race but faded in the closing kilometer, finishing 14 seconds back for bronze. "I’ve never been this tired in my whole life," Hedegart admitted, adding he feared passing out in the final 200 meters.
Norway's Harald Østberg Amundsen and Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Andrew Musgrave of Great Britain finished sixth, improving on his previous best and setting a new national record in the discipline. The 35-year-old Scot, who lives in Norway, vomited post-race from exertion but reflected positively: "We’ve definitely put ourselves on the map as a cross-country nation." Warm weather led some skiers to race without tops, and the unsalted track created slushy conditions, contributing to several falls, including Sweden's William Poromaa.
Klaebo has three more events ahead, including the 4x7.5km relay, offering chances to break the record outright.
