Team USA Cross-Country Skiers Shine at Winter Olympics

Team USA’s cross-country skiers have been making their mark at the Winter Olympics, earning silver medals in the team sprint on Wednesday. Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher secured the silver, adding to the Americans’ medal tally in the sport. They finished just behind Norway’s Johannes Hesfrod Kraevo and Einar Hedegard, clocking in at 18 minutes, 30.35 seconds, which was under two seconds away from gold.

Italy’s Elia Valp and Federico Pellegrino took home the bronze. This marks Ogden’s second medal at these Games, as he previously secured silver in the classic sprint race. For Schumacher, it’s a significant achievement, marking his first Olympic medal after a notable performance on the junior circuit.

The U.S. team’s three medals in cross-country skiing are a record, and there’s potential for a fourth, with Jesse Diggins and Julia Kahn still set to compete in the women’s team sprint. Diggins herself has already earned a bronze in the 10km freestyle race.

Interestingly, team sprints have largely been a Norwegian stronghold. They have claimed gold in this event at the last two Winter Olympics and the 2010 Vancouver Games.

Overall, it’s an exciting time for U.S. cross-country skiing, and one can’t help but feel hopeful about what the future holds in these Winter Games.