Who is Winning the Winter Olympics?

Zak Drapeau
7 hours ago
3 min read

by Zak Drapeau

Sportz Nation - 2/20/2026

Norway

The 2026 Winter Olympics have become one of the biggest landslides in the event's history and it's thanks to Norway. In 2022 and 2018, Norway would set records in Most Gold Medals Achieved and Most Total Medals Received respectively. In 2026, they're on pace to break both of those.

In fact, Norway has already set the record for Most Gold Medals in a single Winter Olympics in 2026 with 17 already, beating their mark in 2022 of 16.

As of now, they're total medal count sits at 36, (17 Gold, 9 Silver and 10 Bronze). The record was set by Norway in 2018 with 39 and with more than 15 events still to take place between now and Sunday, it's very likely they become the first nation to ever win 40 medals in a single event.

The real dominance can be seen in the margin between themselves and 2nd place which happens to be the United States at the time of this article. Right now, (roughly 12 pm EST on Friday) the United States sits at 27 total medals with 9 Gold which is also second-most among nations.

Setting Records

As of right now, their 8 Gold Medal lead would be the largest margin of separation ever, with the current mark being a 7 Gold difference held by the Soviet Union in 1964.

Their 9 total medal separation as of right now would be the most since 2002 when Germany set the then-record of 36 Total Medals.

Norway also set the record for Most Total Relays/Teams Golds in a single games with 4, held by multiple Olympians including Johannes Dale-Skjevdal.

Norway's Johannes Hoesflat Klaebo leads all 2026 Olympians with 5 Gold Medals. This mark of 5 Gold Medals ties the record for most Golds won by an individual in a single Olympics with the United States' Eric Heiden in 1980. Klaebo will compete in the final Cross-Country skiing event on Saturday as he looks to sweep the discipline and set the new record for any Winter Olympian.

Predicting the Final Total

Norway's incredible Gold Medal count has come largely from their proficiency in skiing, mainly cross-country skiing and Biathlon. Tomorrow on Saturday the 21st, there is two different Men's Freestyle Skiing Final events, a Woman's Freestyle Skiing event a Men's Cross-Country Skiing event and a Woman's Biathlon event. Then on Sunday there is one final Woman's Cross-Country Skiing event.

With Johannes Klaebo set to break the record and sweep Cross-Country Skiing that should be another Gold. Maran Kirkeeide will compete for Norway in the Woman's Biathlon 12.5km Mass Start on Saturday and is one of two woman favored to win the event as well.

So there are 2 more Golds Norway is expected to get and that doesn't include the several skiing medals they may place in Silver and Bronze as well. Not to mention the other disciplines that Norway has still been terrific in so far these games.

With 19 more events until the closing ceremony, I predict that Norway will capture 2 more Gold medals and a total of 5 more total medals. This would mean they would earn 19 Golds and 42 Total Medals, which would both shatter their own records.