# Cross-country skiing at the Winter Olympics

Cross-country skiing has been contested at the Winter Olympic Games since the first Winter Games in 1924 in Chamonix, France. The women's events were first contested at the 1952 Winter Olympics.

## Summary

| Games | Year | Events | Best Nation |
| 1 | 1924 | 2 | Norway (1) |
| 2 | 1928 | 2 | Norway (2) |
| 3 | 1932 | 2 | Finland (1) |
| 4 | 1936 | 3 | Sweden (1) |
| 5 | 1948 | 3 | Sweden (2) |
| 6 | 1952 | 4 | Finland (2) |
| 7 | 1956 | 6 | Soviet Union (1) |
| 8 | 1960 | 6 | Sweden (3) |
| 9 | 1964 | 7 | Soviet Union (2) |
| 10 | 1968 | 7 | Norway (3) |
| 11 | 1972 | 7 | Soviet Union (3) |
| 12 | 1976 | 7 | Soviet Union (4) |
| 13 | 1980 | 7 | Soviet Union (5) |
| Games | Year | Events | Best Nation |
| 14 | 1984 | 8 | Finland (3) |
| 15 | 1988 | 8 | Soviet Union (6) |
| 16 | 1992 | 10 | Norway (4) |
| 17 | 1994 | 10 | Norway (5) |
| 18 | 1998 | 10 | Russia (1) |
| 19 | 2002 | 12 | Norway (6) |
| 20 | 2006 | 12 | Sweden (4) |
| 21 | 2010 | 12 | Norway (7) |
| 22 | 2014 | 12 | Norway (8) |
| 23 | 2018 | 12 | Norway (9) |
| 24 | 2022 | 12 | Norway (10) |
| 25 | 2026 | 12 | |

## Events

C = classical, F = freestyle, m = mass start, p = pursuit, s = skiathlon

### Men's

| Event | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 94 | 98 | 02 | 06 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | Years |
| 10 km | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C | C | C | | | | | | | 3 |
| 18 km/15 km | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | C | | | | C | C | F | C | F | C | 21 |
| 30 km | | | | | | | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | C | C | F | C | Fm | | | | | | 13 |
| 50 km | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | F | F | C | F | C | Fm | Cm | Fm | Cm | Fm | 24 |
| 4 x 10 km | | | | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 21 |
| Combined/Double pursuit/Skiathlon | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fp | Fp | Fp | p | s | s | s | s | s | 9 |
| Individual sprint | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | F | F | C | F | C | F | 6 |
| Team sprint | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C | F | C | F | C | 5 |
| Total Events | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |

### Women's

| Event | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 94 | 98 | 02 | 06 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | Years |
| 5 km | | | | | | | | | • | • | • | • | • | • | C | C | C | C | | | | | | | 10 |
| 10 km | | | | | | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | C | | | | C | C | F | C | F | C | 16 |
| 15 km | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C | F | C | Fm | | | | | | 4 |
| 20 km/30 km | | | | | | | | | | | | | | • | F | F | C | F | C | Fm | Cm | Fm | Cm | Fm | 11 |
| 3/4 x 5 km | | | | | | | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 18 |
| Combined/Double pursuit/Skiathlon | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fp | Fp | Fp | p | s | s | s | s | s | 9 |
| Individual sprint | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | F | F | C | F | C | F | 6 |
| Team sprint | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C | F | C | F | C | 5 |
| Total Events | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |

## Medal table

Sources (after the 2022 Winter Olympics): Accurate as of 2022 Winter Olympics.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Norway (NOR) | 52 | 43 | 34 | 129 |
| 2 | Sweden (SWE) | 32 | 27 | 25 | 84 |
| 3 | Soviet Union (URS) | 25 | 22 | 21 | 68 |
| 4 | Finland (FIN) | 22 | 27 | 37 | 86 |
| 5 | Russia (RUS) | 14 | 10 | 9 | 33 |
| 6 | Italy (ITA) | 9 | 14 | 13 | 36 |
| 7 | ROC (ROC) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| 8 | Estonia (EST) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 9 | Switzerland (SUI) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| 10 | Germany (GER) | 3 | 10 | 4 | 17 |
| 11 | Unified Team (EUN) | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
| 12 | Poland (POL) | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 13 | East Germany (GDR) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 14 | Canada (CAN) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 15 | Czech Republic (CZE) | 1 | 5 | 3 | 9 |
| 16 | Austria (AUT) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 17 | Kazakhstan (KAZ) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 17 | United States (USA) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 19 | Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| 20 | Czechoslovakia (TCH) | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 20 | France (FRA) | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 22 | Slovenia (SLO) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 23 | Bulgaria (BUL) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (23 entries) | Totals (23 entries) | 182 | 180 | 182 | 544 |

### Notes

* 2 gold medals and no silver were awarded at 2002 men's 2 × 10 kilometre pursuit.
* 2 bronze medals were awarded at 2018 women's 10 kilometre freestyle.

## Number of cross-country skiers by nation

| Nation | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 94 | 98 | 02 | 06 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | Years |
| Algeria | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | 2 |
| Andorra | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | 1 | | 3 |
| Argentina | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 5 | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | | 10 |
| Armenia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | | 6 |
| Australia | | | | | | 2 | | 1 | | 1 | | | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | | 13 |
| Austria | | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 4 | | 9 | 5 | 4 | 7 | | 4 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 7 | | 20 |
| Belarus | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 9 | | 7 |
| Bermuda | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 3 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | 5 |
| Brazil | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | 5 |
| Bulgaria | | | | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | | 20 |
| Canada | | 2 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | | 22 |
| Chile | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | | 2 |
| China | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 8 | 3 | 3 | | 4 | 3 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 4 | | 10 |
| Costa Rica | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | 4 |
| Croatia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | | 8 |
| Czechoslovakia | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 12 | | | | | | | | | 16 |
| Czech Republic | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | | 7 |
| Denmark | | | | | | | | | 1 | 3 | | | | | | 2 | 2 | 1 | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 8 |
| Dominica | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | 1 |
| East Germany | | | | | | | | | | 9 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | 6 |
| Ecuador | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Estonia | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 7 | 7 | | 9 |
| Ethiopia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | 2 |
| Finland | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 15 | | 23 |
| France | 6 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | | 23 |
| Germany | | 5 | | 10 | | 9 | | | | | | | | | | 10 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 12 | | 11 |
| Great Britain | | | | 1 | | | 8 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 1 | | | | 3 | 4 | 4 | | 15 |
| Greece | | | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | 2 | | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | 13 |
| Hungary | 7 | 1 | | | 2 | 2 | | 2 | 3 | 3 | | | | | 1 | 2 | | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | | 15 |
| Iceland | | | | | | 6 | 2 | | 2 | | | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | | | | | 1 | 3 | | 11 |
| India | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 4 |
| Iran | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | | 5 |
| Ireland | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 5 |
| Italy | 7 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 15 | | 23 |
| Japan | | 5 | 6 | 5 | | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 2 | | 21 |
| Kazakhstan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 7 | | 7 |
| Kenya | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | 3 |
| Latvia | 1 | | | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | | 10 |
| Lebanon | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | 2 |
| Liechtenstein | | | | | 5 | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | | 1 | 1 | | 11 |
| Lithuania | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| North Macedonia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | 6 |
| Mexico | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | 1 | | 3 |
| Moldova | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | | 5 |
| Mongolia | | | | | | | | | 8 | 2 | 2 | | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | 13 |
| Nepal | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 4 |
| North Korea | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | | | 3 | | 3 |
| Norway | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | | | | | |
| Poland | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | |
| Portugal | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | |
| Romania | | | | 4 | | 9 | 6 | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | |
| South Africa | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | |
| South Korea | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | |
| Soviet Union | | | | | | | 11 | 11 | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Spain | | | | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | | | | |
| Sweden | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | | 23 |
| Switzerland | 7 | 6 | | 4 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tonga | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Turkey | | | | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| United States | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| United Team of Germany | | | | | | | 11 | 14 | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| West Germany | | | | | | | | | | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | 6 |
| Yugoslavia | 4 | 6 | | 6 | 6 | 2 | 9 | | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nations | 11 | 15 | 11 | 22 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 32 | 35 | 40 | 35 | 37 | 44 | 53 | 55 | 54 | 65 | |
| Cross-country skiers | 59 | 71 | 58 | 108 | 106 | 138 | 150 | 112 | 151 | 147 | 152 | 165 | 131 | 179 | 197 | 223 | 197 | 228 | 260 | 307 | 292 | 310 | 313 | |
| Year | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 94 | 98 | 02 | 06 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | |