Vermont Skier Breaks American Men’s Cross-Country Medal Streak at Milan Cortina
Ben Ogden won silver in the men’s cross-country skiing sprint Tuesday at the Milan Cortina Olympics, becoming the first American man to claim an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing in 50 years. The 25-year-old Vermont native finished just 0.8 seconds behind Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, who captured gold with a time of 3 minutes, 39.8 seconds.
The last American man to medal in Olympic cross-country skiing was Bill Koch, also from Vermont, who took silver in 1976. Ogden has personal ties to that legacy—he grew up in the Bill Koch Youth Ski League and has trained alongside his fellow Vermonter.
A Dominant Performance
Ogden surged through the competition with precise classic technique, advancing from the quarterfinals through the semifinals as the fastest “lucky loser.” In the final race, he maintained second place against Norway’s Oskar Opstad Vike, who claimed bronze 6.8 seconds behind Klaebo.
“Unbelievable, unbelievable. I just can’t put into words. I’m just so thrilled,” Ogden said after crossing the finish line. “I’m proud to be the first in the sprint but there will be more, don’t you worry.”
The Larger Picture
Ogden’s breakthrough marks a significant moment for the U.S. cross-country team, which has worked toward this milestone for years. His performance signals renewed American competitiveness in a sport historically dominated by Nordic nations. The silver medal represents Team USA’s first individual Olympic sprint medal in cross-country skiing.
Swedish Sweep in Women’s Competition
Sweden dominated the women’s sprint classic, with Linn Svahn winning gold in 4 minutes, 3.1 seconds, edging defending champion Jonna Sundling for silver. Maja Dahlqvist completed the podium sweep with bronze. The race was attended by Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf. Meanwhile, U.S. standout Jessie Diggins was eliminated in the quarterfinals after sustaining bruised ribs during an earlier skiathlon event.
