American Cross-Country Skiers Face Challenges in Olympic Skiathlon

Crashes and tough conditions hinder top U.S. skiers in first Olympic cross-country event

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Team USA's cross-country ski team faced difficulties in the first Olympic competition, the grueling skiathlon event, with crashes and tough conditions hindering some of the top American skiers. Despite the setbacks, the U.S. skiers showed promise, with Jessie Diggins and Gus Schumacher leading the way for the American team.

Why it matters

Cross-country skiing is a marquee event at the Winter Olympics, and the performance of the U.S. team is closely watched as they look to build on past successes. The skiathlon is one of the most demanding events, testing both classic and freestyle skiing abilities, so the challenges faced by the American skiers provide insight into the team's strengths and weaknesses as they prepare for the rest of the Olympic competition.

The details

In the women's race, Jessie Diggins finished eighth despite a crash in the classic portion, while Julia Kern, Novie McCabe, and Rosie Brennan also competed for the U.S. team. On the men's side, Gus Schumacher was the top American finisher in 24th place, but a crash involving teammate Zak Ketterson early in the race hindered his chances. Other American men's skiers included Hunter Wonders, Zanden McMullen, and Ketterson.

  • The skiathlon competition took place on Saturday, February 8, 2026 for the women and Sunday, February 9, 2026 for the men.
  • The cross-country skiers have Monday, February 10, 2026 off before returning to action on Tuesday, February 11, 2026 for a classic sprint race.

The players

Jessie Diggins

A top American cross-country skier who finished eighth in the women's skiathlon despite a crash.

Gus Schumacher

The top American finisher in the men's skiathlon, placing 24th, but was hindered by a crash early in the race.

Zak Ketterson

An American cross-country skier who was involved in the crash that affected Schumacher's race.

Hunter Wonders

An Alaskan cross-country skier who finished 31st in his Olympic debut in the men's skiathlon.

Frida Karlsson

The Swedish skier who won the women's skiathlon event.

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What they’re saying

“There are a lot of things that need to come together for a good ski race to happen. There are a lot of pieces that need to come into place and I was really, really encouraged by the skate half, but the classic half, the things out of my control did not go very well.”

— Jessie Diggins (U.S. Ski and Snowboard)

“I am proud of myself for making it here and battling through some tough moments. I showed up and did everything I could in the race and I'm proud of that. My classic skiing is in great shape.”

— Rosie Brennan (Instagram)

“I was dead last after the fall. Unfortunately, Zak fell right in front of me and, you know, it was tight coming into that corner and I didn't see what happened to Zak, but into the dropdown, I got one ski around him but the other caught him and spun me around off track. I did what I could, but when the other people at the front are still going as fast, it's hard to catch them.”

— Gus Schumacher (Anchorage Daily News)

“It was hard. It was a hard course with tricky conditions. The skiathlon is difficult because it mixes it up with the muscle groups you use and takes a second to transition, but it was fun! Great Olympic debut.”

— Hunter Wonders (Anchorage Daily News)

What’s next

The cross-country skiers will return to action on Tuesday, February 11, 2026 for a classic sprint race for both the men and women.

The takeaway

Despite the challenges faced by the American cross-country skiers in the demanding skiathlon event, their performances showed promise and resilience as they look to build momentum heading into the rest of the Olympic competition. The team's ability to overcome setbacks and learn from this experience will be key as they aim for success in the remaining events.