OWG PyeongChang 2018 - 50 km Men

PYEONGCHANG - Norway is aiming to overtake Sweden as the most successful NOC in the men's 50km event (classic and free), on Saturday 24 February at the Alpensia Cross-Country Skiing Centre.

• Norway's tally of seven gold medals in the men's 50km (classic and free) is a joint high along with Sweden.

• Sweden's last Olympic title in this event came at the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games, when Gunde SVAN triumphed, while Norway's last victory was in 2010, when Petter NORTHUG won gold.

• Sweden is more successful than Norway as it has claimed six silver medals while Norway has two (with both NOCs having five bronze).

• Since the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, Martin Johnsrud SUNDBY (NOR) has claimed a podium spot in four of the six 50km events (classic and free) in major competitions (World Cup, world championships), including victories in the last two in the classic style.

• No other man has more than one podium finish in this event in major competitions since Sochi 2014.

• SUNDBY has recorded a top-three finish in six of his last nine appearances in a 50km event (classic and free) in major competitions (World Cup, world championships, Olympic Winter Games).

• SUNDBY and Simen Hegstad KRUEGER (NOR) can equal Johannes Hoesflot KLAEBO (NOR) on a record three gold medals in cross-country skiing at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, which is also the record for any other Winter Games in this sport, set five times in men's events (including KLAEBO in 2018) and eight times in ladies' events.

• Norway has already won a single Winter Games record six gold medals in cross-country skiing and can now also break the record of most total medals in this sport at one Winter Gamers. Its 13 medals won at PyeongChang 2018 equals the Soviet Union's record of 13 set in 1988.

• Norway has won a medal in all 10 cross-country skiing events held at PyeongChang 2018. This also ties the all-time record as Norway won medals in 10 different events at Salt Lake City 2002.

• Alex HARVEY (CAN), reigning world champion in the 50km, could become the first athlete representing a North American NOC to claim an Olympic medal in this event (classic and free).

• HARVEY could become the second reigning world champion in the 50km (classic or free) in the last 30 years to claim the Olympic title in this event, after NORTHUG in 2010.

• HARVEY is hoping to become the second medallist from North America in men's cross-country skiing after Bill KOCH (USA) who took silver in the 30km classic in 1976.

• The only French Olympic medal in an individual event in this sport was a silver medal by Roddy DARRAGON in the men's sprint free in 2006.

• Dario COLOGNA (SUI) has won four Olympic medals, all gold. He currently shares the Swiss record of four gold medals at the Winter Games with ski jumper Simon AMMANN.

• Only Alpine skier Vreni SCHNEIDER (SUI, five) and bobsledder Fritz FEIERABEND (SUI, five) have won more Winter Games medals for Switzerland than COLOGNA.

• COLOGNA could become the third Olympic medallist from Switzerland in the men's 50km (classic or free), after Andreas GRUNENFELDER in 1988 (bronze) and Josef HAAS in 1968 (bronze).

• COLOGNA became the first man to win the Tour de Ski and Olympic gold in the same year when he won the men's 15km free on Friday 16 February.