20 GOLD INCLUDING 16 GOLD IN CHINA WHICH IS A RECORD FOR A WINTER OLYMPICS: NORWAY IS NOW THE WORLD’S BEST OLYMPIC NATION

The sports nation Norway has never experienced such success in just half a year. There is a line of gold from July 27 to February 20. From Kristian Blummenfelt’s victory in triathlon in Japan to Therese Johaug’s triumph of three miles on Sunday morning.

has divided the number of Olympic golds summer and winter on the number of inhabitants in all nations with more than 10 Olympic golds in Tokyo and Beijing. Norway (20 gold – 5.4 million) tops that list, ahead of Sweden (11 gold – 10.4 million) and the Netherlands (18 gold – 17.4 million inhabitants).

Both the USA and China have won 47 golds in the summer and winter Olympics, but fall far behind when their much larger population is taken into account.

Therese Johaug served the Swedes an ever so small sting after Olympic gold number three was secured. Early in the Olympics, Johaug received a question from a Swedish journalist about the medal statistics that Sweden then led. She replied that “we will have to count up in the end”.

– The one who laughs last, laughs best. I think the Swedes must pay attention to what they say. Because we can fight back hard again, Johaug says smiling to Discovery.

With eight medals – gold to Karsten Warholm, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Kristian Blummenfelt and Anders Mol / Christian Sørum – Olympiatoppen fulfilled its goal in the summer Olympics.

Norway had a goal of 32 medals in China. With Johaug’s gold and the alpinists’ final bronze in the team competition, it ended up with a total of 37 medals – including 16 gold which is a record for a Winter Olympics.

Norway won the medal statistics for the 10th time. This is the first time in history that the Norwegians are at the top for the third time in a row in the Winter Olympics. Norway also topped Pyeongchang 2018 (14 gold) and Sochi 2014 (11 gold).

– We manage to combine the level of performance at a completely heavenly level with the joy of sports. It is something I am extra proud of, says top sports manager Tore Øvrebø to NRK after seeing Therese Johaug go to the finish line crying with the flag in her hand.

Norway’s best medalists in the Beijing Olympics

1. Johannes Thingnes Bø – 4 gold and 1 bronze.

2. Marte Olsbu Røiseland – 3 gold and 2 bronze.

3. Therese Johaug – 3 gold.

4. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo – 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze.

5. Tarjei Bø – 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze.

5. Jørgen Graabak – 2 gold and 1 silver.

7. Tiril Eckhoff – 1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze.

8. Jens Lurås Oftebro – 1 gold and 1 silver.

9. Hallgeir Engebråten – 1 gold and 1 bronze.

9. Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen – 1 gold and 1 bronze.

The head of top sports is particularly pleased with the biathletes’ 14 medals. But Norway has won medals in all nine disciplines with Norwegian participants.

– A fantastic squad of great athletes with a support and management apparatus that is just unique in the world. Together we manage to create a community and a unity that is touching to be a part of every single day. I think that is one of the reasons why Norway keeps pulling out the whole games, says top sports manager Tore Øvrebø to NRK.

But Norway has also lost clear medal chances due to the pandemic. The big favorite Jarl Magnus Riiber had to stand over the first individual race and went wrong in the second. Cross-country skiers Heidi Weng and Anne Kjersti Kalvå never came to China, while Simen Hegstad Krüger barely reached the Olympics after corona disease and took bronze at «five miles.

– Cross-country skiing has had a bit of a push, but has fantastic athletes at the top, Øvrebø believes.

The top sports manager is aware that not everything has been perfect. Therese Johaug has trained in altitude for many years, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has had success with his new altitude commitment, but many of the cross-country skiers have not achieved their best at 1700 meters altitude in Zhangijakou.

In the evaluation, the questions from Olympiatoppen come, Øvrebø warns.

– Yes of course. We always ask about important performance factors. It is part of the discussion all the time, says the head of top sports to NRK Sport on the radio.