{"id":3054,"date":"2026-02-16T01:49:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T01:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=3054"},"modified":"2026-02-16T01:49:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T01:49:14","slug":"the-new-winter-olympics-king","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=3054","title":{"rendered":"The new Winter Olympics king"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Hello from Milan and Cortina, where <\/em>Johannes<\/strong><\/em> <\/em>H\u00f8sflot Kl\u00e6bo<\/strong><\/em>, the Norwegian cross-country skier, won his ninth gold medal, giving him the most in Winter Olympics history.<\/em><\/p>\n

Plus, Italian Alpine skier Federica Brignone won another gold less than a year after a violent crash, and the Dutch duo of <\/em>Femke Kok<\/strong><\/em> and <\/em>Jutta Leerdam<\/strong><\/em> dethroned American <\/em>Erin Jackson<\/strong><\/em> in the speedskating 500-meter final.<\/em><\/p>\n

We call this month Legendary February. From the Super Bowl to the Olympics to the NBA All-Star Game, which is played tonight, you can watch it all on NBC. Catch our coverage of the basketball game and all things Olympics on <\/em>NBC News<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>NBC Sports<\/em><\/a> and on <\/em>Peacock<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Live from Milan Cortina<\/h2>\n

American speedskater Erin Jackson<\/strong>, the reigning gold medalist in the 500 meters, had a chance to defend her title today. She had a strong start, but Femke Kok<\/strong>, this year\u2019s favorite, from the Netherlands, sped past her and finished with a blazing time of 36.49 seconds, an Olympic record.<\/p>\n

\"Femke<\/picture>
The Netherlands’ Femke Kok celebrates after winning gold and setting an Olympic record in the speedskating women’s 500 meters Sunday.<\/span>Daniel Munoz \/ AFP – Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Afterward, Jackson skated over to Kok, smiling and patting her back in congratulations. Jackson ended in fifth place, 0.05 seconds away from bronze. The Netherlands\u2019 Jutta Leerdam<\/strong> claimed silver after previously winning the 1,000-meter final at these Games.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, American Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin<\/strong> failed to medal today in the giant slalom. On Wednesday, she\u2019ll compete in the slalom, her last chance to avoid going medalless at a second straight Olympic Games.<\/p>\n

The U.S. men\u2019s curling team upset Sweden today 8-5, and the U.S. men\u2019s hockey team dominated Germany 5-1. With that victory, the Americans won their group and clinched a bye into the quarterfinals; Canada and Slovakia won the other two groups. <\/p>\n

The figure skating pairs competition also started today with the short program. The German pair of Nikita Volodin<\/strong> and Minerva Fabienne Hase<\/strong> posted a score of 80.01 and are in first place. The two American pairs are in 7th and 9th place, with the free skate scheduled for tomorrow. <\/p>\n

\n

Athlete Spotlight<\/h2>\n
\"Image:<\/picture>
Federica Brignone of Italy crosses the finish line of the women’s giant slalom in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Sunday. <\/span>Ezra Shaw \/ Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Italy\u2019s Federica Brignone<\/strong> shouldn\u2019t be here at the Winter Olympics. She tore her ACL and suffered multiple fractures in a crash last April, and only just returned to competition on Jan. 20. But less than a month later, she\u2019s not only participating but dominating.<\/p>\n

Brignone, who wears a distinctive helmet featuring a tiger, secured her second gold medal<\/a> of these Games today when she won the women\u2019s giant slalom. Her combined time over two runs (2:13.50) was nearly a full second better than American legend Mikaela Shiffrin, who took 11th place.<\/p>\n

Brignone said the injuries were so bad she \u201ccame very close to not being able to be an athlete anymore\u201d and could barely walk.<\/p>\n

\u201cActually, I was just happy to be at the Olympics. For me, it was an achievement, like something special, and that\u2019s why I think I won, because I was just happy already and grateful to be here,\u201d Brignone told NBC News correspondent Molly Hunter<\/strong> after the competition.<\/p>\n

Now, she\u2019s won gold in the giant slalom and super-G. Today, as she raced across the finish line, she heard the Italian crowd roar in the background. That\u2019s how she realized she\u2019d won.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe crowd just, I felt them a lot, and then I turned around and I saw No. 1,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\n

A historic performance<\/h2>\n
\"Image:<\/picture>
Norway’s Johannes H\u00f8sflot Kl\u00e6bo competes in the cross-country men’s relay in Lago di Tesero, Italy, on Sunday.<\/span>Javier Soriano \/ AFP – Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There\u2019s a new king of the Winter Olympics. Cross-country skiing star Johannes <\/strong>H\u00f8sflot Kl\u00e6bo<\/strong> claimed his ninth career gold medal today, breaking a tie with three other retired Norwegian athletes for the most ever.<\/p>\n

Kl\u00e6bo anchored the 4×7.5-kilometer relay team that took first place. It was his fourth gold of the Milan Cortina Games. <\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve just tried to enjoy the moments today,\u201d he said. \u201cBeing able to do that and take the ninth one with the team is special, and it couldn\u2019t be a better way to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The crazy thing? He\u2019s not done yet. Kl\u00e6bo is expected to compete in two more races. If he wins both, he would join American swimmer Michael Phelps<\/strong> as the only other Olympian to win more than 10 gold medals.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a little bit easier to prepare myself for these Olympics than the last Olympics and the world championships last year,\u201d Kl\u00e6bo said. \u201cHaving fun on the way is also important, and I think it shows in the results.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Photo of the Day<\/h2>\n
\"Norway's<\/picture>
Norway’s Thea Louise Stjernesund and Sweden’s Sara Hector bow in front of Italy’s Federica Brignone after she wins the women’s giant slalom in Cortina d’Ampezzo. <\/span>Tiziana Fabi \/ AFP – Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

When to watch<\/h2>\n

The U.S. women\u2019s hockey team plays Sweden in the semifinals for a spot in the gold-medal game. Pairs figure skating will hand out medals, and a trio of American women are in contention for the podium in monobob.<\/p>\n

All times are in Eastern, and an asterisk signifies a medal event:<\/p>\n

Monday, Feb. 16<\/strong><\/p>\n