Cross-country skiing: Five-time Olympic champion Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo begins road to Milano Cortina 2026
The seven-time Olympic medallist and starboy of cross-country skiing is out to win back his overall World Cup title and move towards a qualifying berth for the Olympic Winter Games.
Cross-Country Skiing
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo is a name synonymous with cross-country skiing.
Seven Olympic medals, four overall World Cup titles, and 90 combined World Cup wins makes the Norwegian one of the most successful athletes in the history of the sport.
Last season he won his sixth World Cup sprint title, but the aim will be to regain the overall crystal globe and set himself on the way to Milano Cortina 2026.
A potential third Olympic Winter Games before his 30th birthday is an enticing prospect for Klaebo to further solidify his greatness, as eyes turn to the road to the next Winter Olympics in Italy, beginning in Finland.
Can Klaebo return to the top step of the podium and put himself in pole position ahead of Milano Cortina?
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo in fine form going into new season
A week before the start of the 2024-25 FIS Cross Country World Cup on Friday (29 November), Klaebo showed that he is raring to go for the new campaign.
He participated in the Beitosprinten, the traditional opening event for the Norwegian cross-country skiing season in Beitostolen, emerging triumphant on home snow in both the classic sprint and the men’s 10km classic race.
Klaebo is clearly back up to speed and raring to go after a strong outing in his native Norway, though his focus remains razor sharp on the World Cup season.
So much so, the 28-year-old opted not to take part in the individual skate race, instead announcing that he would leave early to rest and prepare for the World Cup opener in Ruka, Finland.
It makes total sense, given how he began the 2023-24 season battling injury and illness, that the man from Oslo wants to be in optimum condition this time around.
The motivation remains high for Klaebo, who has won four World Cup overall titles in his career and is closing in on a centenary of race wins.
Klaebo chases fifth World Cup overall title…and a spot at Milano Cortina 2026
Klaebo will be keen to retain the overall crystal globe he last lifted in 2023, having missed out on top spot by just 54 points to fellow Norwegian skier Harald Oestberg Amundsen last time out.
There will certainly be increased competition ahead of an Olympic year, where rankings points from this season's races will go towards determining who earns a quota for Milano Cortina.
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Milano Cortina Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Milano Cortina.
Klaebo has competed at two Olympic Games where he won a remarkable three gold medals on debut at PyeongChang 2018, before adding another four medals last time out at Beijing 2022.
The prospect of a third Olympics and a first in his home continent is enticing, where the 28-year-old is chasing fellow Norwegian cross-country skiers Marit Bjoergen and Bjorn Daehlie, who have each won eight Olympic golds – Klaebo has five.
Klaebo remains the poster boy of the sport and the top challenger to reigning champion Amundsen, who won his first career crystal globe by claiming the overall title last time out, and adding the distance title small globe and the Tour de Ski trophy.
But if there is anyone you cannot write off, it is Klaebo.