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Norway is going to absolutely destroy everyone at the 2018 Winter Olympics

By Michelle Bruton

Norwegian fans celebrate their team's Gold medal in Men cross-country 4 x 10.0km Relay during the Awards Ceremony, at FIS Nordic World Ski Championship 2017 in Lahti.On Friday, March 3, 2017, in Lahti, Finland. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Norwegian fans celebrate their team's Gold medal in Men cross-country 4 x 10.0km Relay during the Awards Ceremony, at FIS Nordic World Ski Championship 2017 in Lahti.On Friday, March 3, 2017, in Lahti, Finland. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
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Countries across the globe are about to start stockpiling piles of shiny hardware as the 2018 Winter Olympics get underway — and Norway is going to need a separate plane to transport its medals.

The record for medals won by a country in any given Winter Olympics is held by the USA, when the Americans took home a whopping 37 medals in the 2010 Vancouver Games.

But if you’re looking back at the cumulative history of the Winter Games, it’s Norway’s world, and we’re all just living in it.

Norway has competed in 22 Winter Games and has racked up 329 medals overall, an incredible 47 more than the second-most-accomplished nation (the United States).

And the Norwegians aren’t here for mediocrity; the nation has more gold medals (118) than silver (111) or bronze (100).

When all is said and done in Pyeongchang, Norway could add a potential 41 additional medals to its lifetime count — which would, that’s right, break the United States’ record for all-time haul. It would also be Norway’s best-ever performance, with a previous top haul of 26 in the 2014 Sochi Games.

SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 23: (L-R) Silver medalist Therese Johaug of Norway, gold medalist Marit Bjoergen of Norway and bronze medalist Kristin Stoermer Steira of Norway celebrate in the medal ceremony for the Women’s 30 km Mass Start Free during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony at Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 23, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 23: (L-R) Silver medalist Therese Johaug of Norway, gold medalist Marit Bjoergen of Norway and bronze medalist Kristin Stoermer Steira of Norway celebrate in the medal ceremony for the Women’s 30 km Mass Start Free during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony at Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 23, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) /

That’s the prediction from Gracenote Sports, which has Norway dominating the 2018 Games in its final virtual medal table:

Courtesy of Gracenote Sports
Courtesy of Gracenote Sports /

But if you value quality over quantity — and who doesn’t? — the United States is projected to take home the most gold medals, with 14. Norway would theoretically earn its haul by taking bronze in most of its events (15), with 13 silvers and 13 golds.

Part of the reason Norway is expected to be so successful at Pyeongchang is because its team is so dominant in — surprise! — skiing. Specifically, five Norwegians could medal in cross country skiing: Heidi Weng, Martin Johnsrud Sundby, Marit Bjorgen, Johannes Hosflot Klaebo and Ingvild Flugstad Ostberg.

Kjetil Jansrud, Johannes Bo and Maren Lundby could also add medals in Alpine skiing, biathlon and ski jumping, respectively. Johannes Bo could medal in four separate events: 12.5K pursuit, 15K mass start, 20K individual and 4 x 7.5K relay.

So there are seven of Norway’s 41 potential medals in skiing alone — and those are just three disciplines. We haven’t even talked about downhill skiing, giant slalom, and all the freestyle disciplines (slopestyle, specifically).

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But Norway is also strong in snowboarding, with Marcus Kleveland in big air and slopestyle.

In 2017, Norway was named the world’s happiest country.

It’s probably because they win all those medals.

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