Olympic Medal Count: Norway tops table as olympic medal count marked at Verona Arena closing ceremony
The olympic medal count finished with Norway in first place, a tally that included 18 golds and 41 total medals. The closing ceremony at the Verona Arena unfolded with a flag parade, performances and athletes taking their seats to mark the end of the Games.
Olympic Medal Count breakdown
Norway won more gold medals and more total medals than the US, who were second with 12 golds and 33 total medals. Norway’s 18 golds were the most by a country in Winter Olympics history. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo alone accounted for six golds.
Smaller nations punching above weight
The Netherlands finished with 10 golds—the same number as host nation Italy—even though the Netherlands’ population is around 18m; the context notes the Netherlands excels in speed skating. Norway’s achievements were highlighted against nations with larger populations: Norway’s population was given as about 5. 7m, compared with the US on 342m, China on 1. 4bn, Germany on 84m, Italy on 59m and Canada on 40m.
Notable national hauls and totals
Great Britain enjoyed its best ever Winter Olympics medal haul with three golds, a silver and a bronze. Australia also had a strong showing with three golds, two silver and a bronze. The US finished second in both golds and totals with 12 golds and 33 total medals.
Closing ceremony in Verona Arena
The closing ceremony moved into its procession and performances in the Verona Arena. The flags made their exit after a couple of laps of the stage, and the athletes came through to take their seats. The programme included a ballet called 'faces of Italy' with dancers moving across a giant video screen showing faces of regular Italian people, and Italian athletes entered wearing all white gear with medals on display; the Italian national anthem was described as being on the way, followed by an exclamation of "Forza!"
Flag parade and performances
It was flag parade time, with the first in being Greece. The live commentary remarked on hearing Ennio Morricone and noted that Japanese figure skaters who had won gold were performing one of their routines as they passed the stage. Matt Weston was described as coming in twirling the Union Flag. The coverage noted athletes filming the ceremony, lots of waving and smiling, and even a British athlete with hands in pockets waiting to trundle by.
The live header included the phrases "Live scores and schedule | Results | Briefing" and "Norway beats US to top medal table | email Graham. " A moment of playful confusion in the commentary mentioned "Jamie Vardy who of course now plays in Italy’s Serie A. Maybe she is a HUGE Cremonese fan, " a line framed as the commentator straying into comic mishearing. The commentator also said they heard the singer in the centre of the stage say, "Oh Jamie Vardy …" and emphasised this with "I swear. "
One fragment of the running commentary reads as "How Diplo’s Major Lazer"—unclear in the provided context.
The closing ceremony coverage closed with thanks to volunteers, noting how many non-athletes make an Olympic Games possible by giving up their time. The atmosphere was described as part celebration, part farewell, with athletes smiling and taking in the last moments of the Games.
Live coverage also included the short label "Norway beats US to top medal table | email Graham" as part of the event summary. The full sequence from medals and national tallies to the Verona Arena procession and the final performances completed the record of the Games.
Final figures and moments are now on the record: Norway 18 golds and 41 total medals; US 12 golds and 33 total medals; Johannes Høsflot Klæbo six golds; Netherlands and Italy 10 golds each; Great Britain three golds, a silver and a bronze; Australia three golds, two silver and a bronze. The closing ceremony at the Verona Arena concluded the Winter Olympics with flags, music and ceremony.
