U.S. Cross-Country Skiers Claim Olympic Silver

Schumacher and Ogden's achievement built on community support

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher of the United States won the silver medal in the cross-country skiing men's team sprint free at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Tesero, Italy. The achievement was celebrated by their teammate JC Schoonmaker, who trains with Schumacher in Anchorage, Alaska, and is excited to see the impact the medal will have on inspiring the next generation of young skiers back home.

Why it matters

The U.S. men's cross-country skiing team has historically struggled to win Olympic medals, with only three ever won prior to this event. Schumacher and Ogden's silver medal represents a significant breakthrough for the sport in the United States, and the excitement it generates among young skiers could help grow the sport's popularity and produce more medal contenders in the future.

The details

Ogden, 26, and Schumacher, who has spoken about competing through the 2034 Olympics, are still early in their careers and are expected to win more medals in the years to come. Their silver medal came in the team sprint event, which requires both speed and endurance - two areas the athletes have worked to improve through focused training. The achievement was a reflection of the years of work and support from coaches, teammates, family, and their local ski clubs that laid the foundation for their success.

  • Schumacher and Ogden won the silver medal on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
  • Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins won gold for the U.S. in the women's team sprint at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The players

Gus Schumacher

A cross-country skier from Anchorage, Alaska who trains with the Alaska Pacific University Club Program.

Ben Ogden

A 26-year-old cross-country skier from Vermont.

JC Schoonmaker

A 25-year-old cross-country skier from Anchorage, Alaska who trains with Schumacher and finished 8th in the individual sprint at the 2026 Olympics.

Kikkan Randall

A former American cross-country skier who won gold in the women's team sprint at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Jessie Diggins

A former American cross-country skier who won gold in the women's team sprint at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“There's going to be so many juniors out skiing, just so hyped. And that's the coolest part, I think.”

— JC Schoonmaker (adn.com)

“I liked Nordic skiing. But watching that, I was like, 'I need this.' That gave me such a drive.”

— JC Schoonmaker (adn.com)

“You just see these guys, the energy building. You have this momentum now.”

— Erik Flora, Schumacher's coach in Anchorage (adn.com)

“It's so overwhelming to think of all the people you want to thank. When the time comes, you're just like, 'Oh, my God. This is too many. It's too hard.'”

— Ben Ogden (adn.com)

“Everyone that's been involved. Everyone that's a fan of skiing, all the coaches that worked with all these people. All the athletes that are buddies and helped push — it's just a very collective good feeling.”

— Erik Flora, Schumacher's coach in Anchorage (adn.com)

What’s next

The Americans still have a few weeks of racing left on the international circuit after the Olympics close on Sunday, capped with a final weekend of World Cup racing on home snow in Lake Placid, New York. Then, after a chance to celebrate the medals and a few weeks away from training, the team will be back to work, likely alongside newly inspired teammates.

The takeaway

This silver medal achievement by Schumacher and Ogden highlights the power of community support and development in growing a sport like cross-country skiing in the United States. The excitement it generates among young skiers could help produce more medal contenders in the future, building on the momentum created by this breakthrough performance.