Olympic Medal Count: Norway tops Winter Games as olympic medal count shows 18 golds and 41 total
The olympic medal count leaves Norway at the summit of the Winter Games, with 18 golds and 41 total medals, edging the United States, which finished with 12 golds and 33 total medals. The standings arrive as the closing ceremony in Verona approaches and broadcasters prepare for the finale.
Olympic Medal Count: Norway’s historic haul and Klæbo’s six golds
Norway won more gold medals and more total medals than the US, who came second in both categories (12 golds and 33 total medals). Norway’s 18 golds were the most by a country in Winter Olympics history. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo accounted for six golds on his own, a tally larger than that of all but seven other countries at these Games. Norway’s population of about 5. 7m underlines the scale of the achievement against nations with much larger populations.
Speed skating strength and host parity: Netherlands and Italy each on 10 golds
The Netherlands finished with 10 golds — the same number as host nation Italy. The Netherlands, a country that excels in speed skating, achieved that total despite a relatively small population of around 18m. Italy finished with 10 golds as the host nation.
Close counts for larger nations and population contrasts
Norway’s performance came ahead of winter-sports powers with far larger populations: the US (342m), China (1. 4bn), Germany (84m), Italy (59m) and Canada (40m). That population contrast was a recurring theme in coverage of the final standings.
Best-ever hauls for Great Britain and Australia, and a curling moment
Great Britain enjoyed its best ever medal haul at a Winter Olympics with three golds, a silver and a bronze. Australia matched that milestone, finishing with three golds, two silver and a bronze, also noted as its best ever Winter Games performance. During the men’s curling final, commentator Steve Cram shouted “GET IN!” after Great Britain took the lead at one stage, a moment singled out in live coverage.
Closing ceremony, cultural asides and personal notes from the final day
The closing ceremony is set in the Verona Arena, where presenter Radzi Chinyanganya, once of Blue Peter, is listed as presenting. A live update noted “about 20 minutes to go”; unclear in the provided context whether that referred specifically to the ceremony start time or another countdown. Coverage also included a broadcast montage of Italian commentators celebrating their homegrown athletes winning gold.
The day’s coverage slipped into cultural asides: performer Achille Lauro was identified by his real name, Lauro De Marinis, and the historical figure Achille Lauro (1887–1982) was described as an Italian businessman and politician widely considered one of the main precursors of modern populism in Italian politics. The live writer and his brother watched the Marco Pantani documentary 'The Natural' and noted that the entire soundtrack was by the group Montefiori Cocktail; they then spent the next day doing DIY while listening to that music.
Emotional near misses and football tangents
There were disappointments amid the triumphs. Mia Brookes’s near miss in snowboarding big air was described as an incredibly emotional moment and she finished without a medal this time. Coverage also briefly referenced football, noting Arsenal’s 4-1 thrashing of Tottenham as a headline-grabbing result on the same day.
The olympic medal count will be the final word on national standings for these Games, with Norway’s record 18 golds and 41 medals standing as the headline figure as the Verona closing celebration draws near.
