Norway Breaks Winter Olympics Record! 17th Gold Seals Historic Milestone in Milan

Norway has rewritten Winter Olympics history. At the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics 2026, Norway secured its 17th gold medal, breaking the previous record for most gold medals won by a nation at a single Winter Games. The historic milestone came after Johannes Dale-Skjevdal delivered a flawless performance in the biathlon men’s 15-kilometer mass start. Norway had earlier set the record with 16 gold medals at Beijing 2022, and now stands alone at the top.

Johannes Dale-Skjevdal Clinches Historic Biathlon Gold

The record-breaking moment came through Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, who hit all 20 targets in the men’s 15km mass start race.

Race Highlights,

• Perfect shooting: 20/20 targets hit
• Winning time: 39 minutes, 17.1 seconds
• Took the lead after first standing shooting bout
• Battled gusty winds and slow snow conditions

Dale-Skjevdal described the moment as unforgettable, calling it a dream to shoot clean in his favorite discipline at the Olympics.

Norway Breaks Its Own Beijing 2022 Record

• Norway had previously set the Winter Olympics record at the 2022 Beijing Games with 16 gold medals.
• With the 17th gold in Milan, the country has officially set a new benchmark in Winter Olympics history.
• The achievement reinforces Norway’s dominance in winter sports, particularly in disciplines like biathlon, cross-country skiing, and Nordic events.

Podium Finishers: Laegreid Silver, Fillon Maillet Bronze

Silver – Sturla Holm Laegreid

Laegreid missed just one target and finished 10.5 seconds behind Dale-Skjevdal. It marked his fifth medal at the 2026 Olympics three silver and two bronze.

Bronze – Quentin Fillon Maillet

Despite missing four targets, Fillon Maillet used strong skiing to overtake Germany’s Philipp Horn and secure bronze, 25.6 seconds behind the winner. It became his ninth Olympic medal overall, further cementing his elite status.

Winter Olympics 2026: Biathlon Format Explained

The biathlon mass start includes,

• Top 30 athletes (based on rankings and Olympic results)
• Five 3-km ski loops
• Four shooting rounds (two prone, two standing)
• Penalty laps for missed targets

The men’s 15km mass start was one of the final biathlon events at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Countries with the Most Winter Olympics Medals

• Norway stands tall as the most successful nation in Winter Olympics history, leading the all-time medal table with 405 total medals.
• According to data from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Norway is followed by the United States and Germany in total Winter Olympics medals.
• The ranking includes gold, silver, and bronze medals won across all Winter Games editions and does not include results from the ongoing Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics.

Norway’s Unmatched Winter Olympics Legacy

With 405 total Winter Olympics medals, Norway dominates the all-time standings.

Norway’s Medal Breakdown.

• Gold: 148
• Silver: 134
• Bronze: 123
• Total: 405

Despite having a population of just over 5 million, Norway has consistently excelled in Nordic skiing, biathlon, and speed skating. Its winter sports culture and strong grassroots training programs have helped maintain long-term dominance.

United States and Germany Follow in Winter Olympics Medals

2nd – United States

• Gold: 114
• Silver: 121
• Bronze: 95
• Total: 330

The United States ranks second overall. Team USA has found success across diverse disciplines including snowboarding, ice hockey, figure skating, and alpine skiing.

3rd – Germany

• Gold: 105
• Silver: 97
• Bronze: 65
• Total: 267

Germany ranks third based on total medals and gold count. Notably, modern Germany has competed in only 13 Winter Games in its current form.

Question

Q. Which country won its 17th gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

A) Germany
B) Norway
C) France
D) Italy