Cross Country Skiing
Mathis Desloges well placed to join Jules Chappaz for the team sprint
February 16, 2026 / L'Équipe
France must name its second skier to partner Jules Chappaz for the Olympic team sprint Wednesday; the staff will decide between Mathis Desloges, Théo Schely and Victor Lovera. Desloges, in excellent form after the first week and part of Sunday's silver-medal quartet, appears the most likely choice unless recovery issues intervene.
Olympics in Milano‑Cortina: Klæbo and Lægreid misused in advertising — 'Serious'
February 16, 2026 / NRK
Norwegian athletes Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Sturla Holm Lægreid were used in promotional posts by private health company Aleris during the Milano‑Cortina 2026 Olympics without rights or commercial agreements. NRK reports the posts have been removed after criticism; Olympic and Norwegian sports authorities say the use violates athletes' marketing rights and Olympic advertising rules.
Cross-country: Edvin Anger critical of Olympic preparation: 'Last time I do it'
February 16, 2026 / SVT
Swedish skier Edvin Anger criticises the way the team prepared for the 2026 Olympics and says he will skip the 50 km and that he won’t repeat the same preparation approach again. Anger—who arrived at the Games with medal hopes—says his form has been far below expectation and that he may only race once more (the teamsprint) before heading home. Team director Anders Byström says a thorough analysis is needed of what went wrong for the men's side ahead of the World Championships in Falun.
Johannes Klæbo becomes the most decorated Winter Olympian after relay gold
February 15, 2026 / L'Équipe
Norway completed an unbeatable relay at Val di Fiemme as Johannes Klæbo won his fourth gold in Milan‑Cortina 2026, bringing his Olympic tally to nine gold medals and making him the most successful athlete in Winter Olympic history. The article recalls Klæbo's season (skiathlon, sprint, individual) and includes praise from Ole Einar Bjørndalen and notes on Klæbo's family and remaining programme at the Games.
A silver medal and, above all, a new status for the French: “It’s so good for French cross‑country skiing”
February 15, 2026 / L'Équipe
Lausanne: After Mathis Desloges’s two individual silvers, the French men’s team added a silver in the 4x10 km relay at the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Games in Val di Fiemme. Behind Norway’s dominant squad led by Johannes Klæbo, France established itself as the new second power in men’s cross‑country, with strong relay legs from Théo Schely, Hugo Lapalus, Desloges and Victor Lovera. The result caps a breakthrough week and signals a lasting change in the depth and status of French distance skiing.
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Norway PM Støre reveals story — borrowed Klæbo's skis in Italy
February 15, 2026 / Eurosport
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, attending the Milano‑Cortina 2026 Olympics in Val di Fiemme, told HBO Max that he borrowed a pair of Johannes Høsflot Klæbo's skis for a high‑altitude outing after Norway's men's relay gold. Støre praised the Norwegian team's performance and described how the Klæbo skis gave him unexpectedly fast glide on a 12 km tour at 1,800 metres.
Norway punished for new rule breach
February 15, 2026 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
FIS has sanctioned Norway after a Norwegian wax technician broke the rules by moving in the tracks during the men's relay. The penalty costs Norway a wax technician vest and the Norwegian federation has accepted the decision. Finnish media report that several skiers—including Iivo Niskanen—were irritated by the incident; Norway's waxing team has faced criticism earlier during the Olympics.
The beautiful end for the relays as we know them
February 15, 2026 / NRK
Opinion piece from Val di Fiemme arguing that the traditional gender-separated Olympic relays in cross-country skiing may be nearing their end because of low entry numbers and IOC/FIS programme pressure. The commentator suggests either switching to mixed relays (two men + two women) or changing FIS quota rules so more nations can field full teams.
Hugo Lapalus: Olympic relay silver — “One day we can be first”
February 15, 2026 / L'Équipe
Buoyed by the French men's relay silver at the 2026 Olympics in Val di Fiemme, Hugo Lapalus praised his team and staff and said France will keep working to beat Norway. Teammates Mathis Desloges and Victor Lovera, and coach Thibaut Chêne, also reflected on the collective achievement and the difficult classic legs that set up the result.
Kläbo now historic: "This is a big day"
February 15, 2026 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
Norway's Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has become the most decorated Winter Olympian in Norwegian skiing history after winning his ninth Olympic gold as part of Norway's relay team. The relay gold took Klæbo past Ole‑Einar Bjørndalen, Marit Björgen and Björn Dählie in total Olympic golds. He called the achievement "a big day" in comments to Radiosporten.
Olympics 2026: Norway penalised for illegal ski testing after relay gold
February 15, 2026 / NRK
FIS has sanctioned Norway after a member of the Norwegian support staff entered a closed section of the course to test skis following the Olympic relay, resulting in one fewer course vest allowed for Norway until after the team sprint. Norway’s ski federation has apologised, saying a wax technician misunderstood the closing time and immediately reported the mistake to the FIS jury.
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Blasts Sweden after crisis relay: “Terribly bad”
February 15, 2026 / Eurosport
After Norway’s dominant relay win in Val di Fiemme and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo’s historic Olympic performance, HBO Max commentators severely criticized the Swedish men’s relay team for finishing last by a wide margin. Sweden’s quartet — Johan Häggström, Calle Halfvarsson, William Poromaa and Edvin Anger — ended three and a half minutes behind Norway, prompting blunt comments about poor preparation and equipment problems.