Norway Breaks Winter Olympics Gold Record with 17th Title in Milan-Cortina

Norway has etched its name deeper into Winter Olympics history, becoming the first nation to win 17 gold medals at a single edition of the Games after Johannes Dale-Skjevdal claimed victory in the men’s 15km biathlon mass start at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The landmark win surpasses Norway’s previous record of 16 gold medals set at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, underlining the Scandinavian nation’s continued dominance in winter sports.

Competing in challenging conditions at the biathlon venue in Anterselva, Italy, Dale-Skjevdal delivered a flawless shooting performance, hitting all 20 targets, a rare and decisive achievement in the sport while skiing aggressively across five laps in newly packed snow and gusty winds. He finished in 39 minutes, 17.1 seconds, to secure his first Olympic gold medal.

“It’s quite a good ending to my first Olympics, and it is also my first time shooting 20 out of 20,” Dale-Skjevdal said after the race. “What a day to do it on. It’s real, and I can’t find the words.”

His teammate, Sturla Holm Laegreid, narrowly missed perfection, hitting 19 of 20 targets to take silver, finishing 10.5 seconds behind Dale-Skjevdal. The medal marked Laegreid’s fifth of the Milan-Cortina Games; three silvers and two bronzes, cementing his status as one of Norway’s standout performers at the event. Celebrating his 29th birthday on race day, Laegreid described the race as physically and mentally demanding.

“It was a tough race. The snow is very slow, and the conditions on the range are windy,” he said. “Today I was in fighter mode, so it suited me well.”

Germany’s Philipp Horn briefly occupied third position after missing just one target in his final shooting bout. However, France’s Quentin Fillon Maillet surged past him on a steep uphill section despite missing four targets overall, clinching bronze 25.6 seconds behind Dale-Skjevdal.

The record-breaking performance adds to Norway’s long-standing reputation as a powerhouse in winter sports, particularly in biathlon, cross-country skiing, and Nordic combined events. Since making its Winter Olympics debut in 1924, Norway has consistently ranked among the top medal-winning nations, with biathlon serving as one of its strongest disciplines.

With events still ongoing in Milan and Cortina, Norway’s medal tally could yet increase, further widening the gap between it and rival winter sports nations.