The GIST: You’ve probably seen the viral clips of Norwegian skier Johannes Høsflot Klaebo dominating the competition, but did you notice Norway is also running away with the medal count at the Milano Cortina Olympics? The small country with a population of just 5.6M has already racked up a Games–leading 28 medals, and 12 of them are gold.
- “Winning” the Winter Games is nothing new for the Norwegians, who also boast the all-time Winter Olympic medals record. Let’s discuss the secrets to their success.
🎉 Youth sports are centered around fun. Norwegians do not keep score, mark time, or rank individuals or teams regardless of sport until kids reach at least age 13. This aligns with the national philosophy that emphasizes the “joy of sport for all.”
😮 Norwegian kids are encouraged to play as many sports as possible. In North America, kids often specialize from a young age. Compare that to Norway, where it’s customary to compete in multiple sports through high school and even university, increasing kids’ all-around athleticism and decreasing the risk of burnout before their bodies have fully developed.
🙌 Norwegian youth sports are accessible and affordable. The “pay-to-play” model is pervasive across North America and creates prohibitive barriers to entry. In contrast, Norway’s athletics have public funding, not to mention a booming used equipment market that makes even the most expensive sports, like skiing, more accessible.
- TL;DR? Norway’s Olympic dominance can be traced back to the country’s focus on raising kids to love sport — not for competition, but simply for the sake of joy. And isn’t that what it’s all about?
