CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo insists the 10-kilometer race is the distance he struggles with most because it forces him to race the clock instead of another competitor.
Funny, it didn't look like it at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Friday.
The 29-year-old Norwegian star made his trademark late surge to win the interval-start race. His time of 20 minutes, 36.2 seconds gave him his eighth career gold medal, tying fellow countrymen Marit Bjoergen, Bjoern Daehlie and Ole Einar Bjoerndalen for the most ever at the Winter Olympics.
The all-time mark could soon be Klaebo's alone. He's scheduled to compete three more times at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium.
On a warm day that left some skiers racing only in their bibs, Klaebo paced himself over the first half of the race before pouring it on late. The result was his third gold since arriving in Italy, and a small nod to the toll it's taking. Klaebo fell into the snow shortly after crossing the finish line.
"It's a special day,'' Klaebo said. ''This one means a lot for sure ... I'm lost for words.''
More medals, but no more confessions, for Laegreid
Norwegian biathlete Strula Holm Laegreid added a second bronze medal in four days when he made the podium in the sprint.
