klaebo wins 10th gold as U.S. men take historic team sprint silver

TESERO, Italy — Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo strengthened his hold on the sport’s record books Wednesday (ET) as he and teammate Einar Hedegart outpaced the field in the men’s team sprint, while Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher powered the United States to a landmark silver medal in the same race.

Klaebo extends Olympic legacy with fifth gold of Milan Cortina

Klaebo, 29, again proved imperious in the fast, tactical format of the team sprint, creating the decisive gap on the uphill in the final lap to bring Norway home in first. The victory marked his fifth gold medal at these Games and the 10th gold of his Winter Olympics career, putting him further ahead of any other athlete in gold medals overall and matching the single-Games gold tally of a celebrated U. S. speedskater for most wins at one Winter Games.

All season Klaebo has been strategic and explosive in short, punchy efforts; the team sprint's alternating six-leg format played to those strengths. Paired with Hedegart, Klaebo skied with the kind of controlled aggression that leaves rivals with little margin for error. He later framed the win as near-perfect in execution, with just enough left in the tank to finish decisively.

U. S. makes history: Ogden and Schumacher deliver silver after long drought

The American tandem delivered one of the most emotional results of the program. Ogden and Schumacher chased Norway to the line, finishing 1. 4 seconds adrift and earning the first U. S. medal in the team sprint since the women’s team won gold in Beijing in 2018.

Schumacher was chosen to anchor and held Klaebo under constant pressure in the final loop, cresting the last hill in second and fending off Italy’s Federico Pellegrino to secure silver. Schumacher collapsed into the snow at the finish while Ogden leaned on his teammate, both visibly spent after a race that demanded relentless surges and tight exchanges.

“It’s insane, ” Ogden said after the race. “We proved today and all week we are here to stay, and the USA guys are in good form. ” Coach Matt Whitcomb echoed the group’s emotional investment, saying he felt uncommon anxiety in the lead-up and describing chest-tight nerves in the final moments.

The Americans’ path to the podium was not tidy; a planned exchange pattern broke down in the crowded change zone and the duo spent much of the final run improvising around traffic. Even so, they qualified for the final comfortably earlier in the day and had built momentum through recent World Cup form, including a first-ever World Cup team sprint podium for the U. S. last month. Ogden’s earlier individual sprint silver had already signaled a team-wide resurgence.

Race shape, implications and what’s next

The team sprint demands a blend of speed, tactical savvy and recovery: each athlete skis three legs, trading the lead and jockeying for position across tight exchanges. In this edition the race repeatedly bunched into a pack that forced decisive moves on the climbs, where Klaebo’s technique and timing delivered separation.

For Norway, the win cements a dominant week and gives Klaebo a chance at another milestone in the coming days: the 50km race on Saturday (ET), where a win would complete an almost unimaginable sweep of the cross-country program. For the U. S., Ogden and Schumacher’s silver represents more than hardware; it signals that a program long on potential can translate promise into podiums under Olympic pressure.

With the Games continuing, attention will now turn to whether Klaebo can add to his tally on Saturday and how the Americans build on a breakthrough performance that has already reshaped expectations for their team.