Norway’s Record-Breaking Haul (Image Credits: Upload.wikimedia.org)
Milan-Cortina, Italy – As the 2026 Winter Olympics commenced, the all-time medal standings highlighted enduring powerhouses from northern climates.
Norway’s Record-Breaking Haul
Norway holds the top spot with 405 total medals, including a staggering 148 golds, across 24 Winter Games.[1][2]
The Scandinavian nation first claimed supremacy in 1924 at Chamonix and repeated the feat nine more times, most recently in 2022 at Beijing.[3]
This dominance stemmed from strong performances in cross-country skiing, biathlon, and Nordic combined events. Norway also shares the record for most medals in a single Games, with 39 in 2018 PyeongChang.
Experts attributed much of this success to the country’s deep winter sports culture and investment in talent development from a young age.
America’s Steady Pursuit
The United States ranked second with 330 medals, featuring 114 golds, and stood as the only nation to secure at least one gold in every Winter Olympics.[1][3]
American athletes excelled in figure skating, speed skating, and freestyle skiing, particularly after the 1980 Lake Placid “Miracle on Ice” hockey triumph boosted national interest.
Though trailing Norway, the U.S. hosted six Winter Games and often peaked on home snow, as seen in the 113 medals from 1932 Lake Placid.
Germany and Soviet Legacy
Germany placed third at 267 medals, with 105 golds, combining efforts from unified teams, East Germany, and West Germany.[1]
The Soviet Union followed with 194 medals over nine appearances, dominating ice hockey and figure skating before its dissolution.
Canada and Austria rounded out the next tiers, with 225 and 250 medals respectively, thanks to prowess in ice hockey, alpine skiing, and freestyle events.[4]
Consistent Medal Haulers
Six nations medaled at every Winter Olympics: Austria, Canada, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States.[3]
These countries built legacies through participation in nearly all 24 Games since 1924. Finland and Sweden contributed steadily in Nordic disciplines, while the Netherlands surged in speed skating.
- Norway topped the medal table 10 times.
- Germany led three times post-reunification.
- The U.S. claimed overall victory only once, in 1932.
- Soviet Union swept multiple categories in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Recent hosts like South Korea and China rose in rankings.
The All-Time Top 10 Table
Here stood the leading nations entering Milan-Cortina 2026:
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 148 | 134 | 123 | 405 |
| 2 | United States | 114 | 121 | 95 | 330 |
| 3 | Germany | 105 | 97 | 65 | 267 |
| 4 | Soviet Union | 78 | 57 | 59 | 194 |
| 5 | Canada | 77 | 72 | 76 | 225 |
| 6 | Austria | 71 | 88 | 91 | 250 |
| 7 | Sweden | 65 | 51 | 60 | 176 |
| 8 | Switzerland | 63 | 47 | 58 | 168 |
| 9 | Netherlands | 53 | 49 | 45 | 147 |
| 10 | Russia | 46 | 39 | 35 | 120 |
These figures reflected awards through Beijing 2022, underscoring long-term excellence over a century of competition.
Key Takeaways
- Norway’s 148 golds dwarf competitors by over 30.
- Northern Europe claimed seven of the top 10 spots.
- Consistency beat sporadic peaks for all-time glory.
Norway’s lead seemed impregnable, yet Milan-Cortina offered chances for challengers to shine. What do you think about it? Tell us in the comments.
