At the 2026 Winter Olympics held in Italy, Norwegian cross-country ski star Johannes Klæbo secured his third title by winning the men's 10km interval start free race with a time of 20:36.2. This victory ties him for the most Olympic gold medals in history, alongside Norway's Marit Bjørgen and Bjoern Dæhlie, as well as Ole Einar Bjørndalen from biathlon. Klæbo had previously won three golds in Pyeongchang and two in Beijing, showing his dominance in the sport.

Having already reached the pinnacle of Olympic success eight times, Klæbo is on the brink of setting a new record if he clinches just one more gold, with three events still remaining in the competition. Known as a 'cross-country genius,' he has achieved the fastest total career wins in Olympic cross-country skiing and World Cup overall championships at a very young age. Klæbo's rigorous training regimen includes a meticulously managed diet, sleep schedule, and post-race recovery strategies, making him a formidable competitor especially noted for his explosive power during the final stretch of races.

After claiming his third gold medal, Klæbo expressed his excitement, stating, "Today is truly a special day; I had struggled with this distance in the past, so this win holds great significance for me." He also conveyed his happiness about joining the ranks of great athletes in the sport. Meanwhile, fellow competitor Lee Jun-seo crossed the finish line in 73rd place among the 113 participants, with a time of 24:25.4.