Ben Ogden wins silver in Olympic cross-country sprint, breaks 50-year US drought

Ben Ogden just broke America’s longest medal drought in cross-country skiing. The 25-year-old Vermont native won silver on Tuesday evening at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. His stunning sprint finish marks the first U.S. men’s Olympic medal in 50 years.

Ogden Surges Past Field in Final Sprint, Falls Just Short of Gold

Ogden finished in second place on Tuesday at the Tesero Cross Country Skiing Stadium in Lago, Italy. He trailed Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo by only 0.87 seconds. The 29-year-old Norwegian dominated the race, claiming his seventh Olympic gold in 3:39.74. Bronze went to Oskar Opstad Vike of Norway at 5.99 seconds back. Ogden’s dramatic finish showed why he’s become one of the fastest American sprinters.

“Unbelievable, unbelievable,” Ogden said after crossing the line. “I just can’t put into words. I’m so thrilled.” The mustachioed racer celebrated with a signature backflip on the podium. His display of joy captivated thousands of Vermont fans who made the journey to Italy.

A Childhood on Skis, Now a Legacy for America

Ogden grew up in the Bill Koch Youth Ski League network, named after the only other U.S. male to medal in cross-country skiing at the Olympics. His father John coached local clubs and helped build a routine around snow and trails. Winters meant groomed loops near the family home and daily time on skis. Coaches credited that environment with shaping Ogden’s racing style.

His whole family embraced the sport. Sister Katharine is a three-time NCAA national champion at Dartmouth. Sister Charlotte raced at Middlebury. Father John skied at Middlebury as well. Ogden won three NCAA titles at the University of Vermont, building the foundation for this Olympic breakthrough.

Qualification Drama Builds to Silver Medal Finish

Stage	Event	Result
Qualification Round	Morning Sprint	2nd fastest finish
Quarter-Final	Heat 1 Victory	3 min 26.10 sec
Semi-Final	Lucky Loser Advance	0.60 sec behind Klæbo
Final Race	Men’s Sprint Classic	SILVER, 3:40.61

Ogden qualified as the second-fastest skier in the morning, then dominated his quarter-final heat. His semi-final was dramatic. He finished just 0.60 seconds behind Klæbo in a photo-finish, earning his spot in the final as a lucky loser. This race-within-races tested Ogden’s mental toughness and tactics.

The final saw Klæbo separate from the field midway with a punishing uphill effort. Ogden surged hard in the final meters but couldn’t close the gap. Still, silver cemented his place in Olympic history.

“I hope it gives the future of the sport in the U.S. a big boost. I know Bill winning his medal gave a big boost to all the young skiers because they dreamed the U.S. could be competitive.”

— Ben Ogden, Olympic Silver Medalist

Knitting Needles and Mental Balance Keep Ogden Sharp

Away from racing, Ogden credits knitting with keeping him balanced through the demanding World Cup season. He works on projects like mittens featuring Joan of Arc and other designs. Ogden studied mechanical engineering at Vermont and also restores vintage Land Rovers to decompress.

“It’s a great way to relax,” Ogden said after his medal win. “It won’t be easy to come down and try to fall asleep tonight. After a day like today, my knitting needles are probably waiting for me.” Other U.S. teammates including Jessie Diggins and Julia Kern also knit between events. Even Tom Daley went viral knitting at the Tokyo Olympics.

Ogden’s car restoration project is equally ambitious. He bought a 1973 Land Rover sitting in a field and rebuilt the motor, transmission, and axles from scratch. He credits these hobbies with preventing obsession over training and keeping his mind fresh during competition.

What Does This Historic Medal Mean for the Future of U.S. Cross-Country Skiing?

Ogden’s silver marks the first American man’s individual medal in any Olympic sprint event. The U.S. men’s program had never finished higher than 19th in an Olympic classical sprint before him. His breakthrough comes amid steady growth driven by stars like Jessie Diggins and rising contender Gus Schumacher, also 25 years old.

Both young racers grew up competing against each other and now push one another to reach new heights. “We all grew up racing each other,” Ogden noted. “Now it’s about pushing each other to get better. We want to take this team to the next level.” Vermonters in the stands, including his mother, roared when he crossed the line. Ogden expects to compete in additional distance events during these Games.

Can Ogden and his teammates turn one historic silver into a sustained medal push? The answer lies in the weeks ahead at Milan-Cortina, where American momentum in cross-country skiing may finally be breaking through.

Sources

• CBS News – Ben Ogden’s silver medal finish ends 50-year U.S. Olympic drought
• The Guardian – Ben Ogden credits knitting habit and Vermont roots in historic Olympic win
• NCAA.org – Five things about former champion Ogden ending Team USA’s medal drought