The third month of 2019 was a spectacular one for former Youth Olympic Games (YOG) athletes as they made their mark at elite level with another huge haul of medals, a new world record and a piece of skating history.

Charlotte Kalla has triumphed at each edition of the Winter Games in which she has competed – from winning gold in her very first race, the 10km freestyle at the Vancouver 2010 Games, to the first skiathlon event at PyeongChang 2018, via her victory in the 4x5km relay at Sochi 2014. She also shares the record for the number of Swedish medals won at the Games, with nine podium places. Here is an interview with a great champion, who still harbours many ambitions.

Norway’s cross-country skiers enjoyed a phenomenal return in the men’s events at PyeongChang 2018, not least thanks to a dazzling debut Games of Johannes Høsflot Klaebo, who won three gold medals. There were also two golds apiece for his compatriots Simen Hegstad Krueger and Martin Johnsrud Sundby, who helped secured a Norwegian podium sweep in the skiathlon along with Hans Crister Holund. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Dario Cologna made his own mark with a third successive victory in the 15km, while Iivo Niskanen of Finland took gold in the 50km classic mass start.

The undisputed star of the women’s cross-country events – and indeed PyeongChang 2018 – was Marit Bjørgen who claimed medals in five events to take her overall tally to 15, more than any other Winter Olympian in history. Meanwhile, Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla and compatriot Stina Nilsson both made it onto the podium four times, including in the team sprint, where Jessica Diggins and Kikkan Randall made history by becoming the first US women to win a cross-country gold.

Germany’s Laura Dahlmeier registered an unprecedented sprint/pursuit double at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre, while Sweden’s Hanna Öberg scored a surprise victory in the 15km individual and Slovakia’s Anastasia Kuzmina added to her extensive Olympic medal collection with a superb win in the mass start.

The French quartet won the biathlon mixed relay at PyeongChang 2018 to hand Martin Fourcade his fifth Olympic gold (and his third of these Games). The relays also produced a golden landmark for Darya Domracheva who took her personal Olympic title haul to four as she helped Belarus win the women’s event to become the most decorated female biathlete in history. Meanwhile the Swedes produced a flawless performance to overcome the Norwegians and Germans in the men’s relay.

The XXIII Olympic Winter Games produced no shortage of sporting heroes, from seasoned athletes who wrote their names in Olympic history with amazing feats and multiple medals to newcomers who announced themselves to the world with their stunning performances.

A spontaneous show of sportsmanship and courage at the back of the field managed to rival the momentous achievement of a fourth gold medal for Switzerland’s Dario Cologna in the men’s 15km free cross country race at the Olympic Winter Games.

On 21 February 2018, Norway's Marit Bjoergen cemented her place in the Pantheon of the greatest Winter Olympians. Her bronze in the women’s cross-country team sprint took her medals total to 14 (seven of them gold), surpassing the previous benchmark set by her compatriot, biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen. She still needs one win to match his tally of eight golds.

France’s Martin Fourcade collected his second gold of PyeongChang 2018 at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre on Sunday 18 February, winning a thrilling men’s 15km mass start by the tip of his right ski from reigning world champion Simon Schempp of Germany.