Norway’s biathlon team capped their Olympics gold haul spectacularly, with Johannes Dale-Skjevdal clinching a record-breaking 17th gold at the Milano Cortina Winter Games. The momentous achievement was underscored by his flawless shooting, completing all 20 targets in the 15-kilometer mass start race.
Standing solo ahead after the first standing bout, Dale-Skjevdal demonstrated impeccable form and resilience as he navigated through five laps on newly packed snow, battling against gusty winds. His remarkable performance resulted in a time of 39 minutes and 17.1 seconds, securing him his seventh gold medal at these Games.
His teammate Sturla Holm Laegreid followed closely behind, narrowly missing only one target and finishing just under Dale-Skjevdal’s winning time for silver — the fifth medal of this Olympic cycle.
In third place, Philipp Horn of Germany displayed admirable technique but faced a setback in shooting, which saw him miss one target during his final bout. However, his persistent pushing through windy conditions allowed him to overtake Quentin Fillon Maillet from France, who missed four targets and was only 25.6 seconds behind Dale-Skjevdal at the finish line.
Fillon Maillet’s silver medal comes on the heels of his gold in the mixed relay and men’s relay events. Despite the loss in the individual mass start race, he showcased his versatility by winning a second Olympic gold, cementing his position as one to watch for future competitions.
Only the top 30 biathletes compete in this event, judged by their World Cup rankings and Olympic performance, completing five, three-kilometer loops with two prone shooting positions and two standing shots.
Norway’s total medal count now stands at an impressive 37 golds — including Dale-Skjevdal’s latest triumph. This puts them atop the overall medal table, ahead of Team USA in second place (27 medals, nine golds) and Italy, also with a strong performance, bringing up third with 27 medals.
The biathlon event is a testament to the outstanding competition across the Games, where athletes from various countries competed on a challenging course. Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo holds the record for most Olympic gold medals in this event, accumulating five more at these Games, now second only to American Michael Phelps’ seven gold medals.
The culmination of remarkable performances at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics has reshaped the medal landscape, with Norway at the forefront.