Ben Ogden Ends 50-Year US Men's Cross-Country Drought

The 24-year-old Vermonter wins silver in the men's sprint classic at the Milan Cortina Games.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Ben Ogden, a 24-year-old cross-country skier from Vermont, won the silver medal in the men's sprint classic event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. Ogden's medal marks the first time an American man has medaled in Olympic cross-country skiing since fellow Vermonter Bill Koch won silver in 1976, ending a 50-year drought for the US in the sport.

Why it matters

Cross-country skiing has long been dominated by European nations, especially Nordic countries like Norway. Ogden's silver medal represents a breakthrough performance for the United States in a sport it has historically struggled in at the Olympic level, potentially inspiring more American athletes to take up the sport.

The details

Ogden, who came up through the Bill Koch Youth Ski League and trained with Koch, powered away from his quarterfinal heat on an uphill section and reached the final as the quickest "lucky loser" after a photo finish left him third in his semifinal. Norway's Johannes Høsflot Klæbo edged Ogden by a second to claim gold, while Norwegian teammate Oskar Opstad Vike took bronze.

  • Ogden won the silver medal on February 11, 2026 at the Milan Cortina Games.

The players

Ben Ogden

A 24-year-old cross-country skier from Vermont who won the silver medal in the men's sprint classic event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, ending a 50-year drought for the US in the sport.

Bill Koch

A fellow Vermonter and the last American man to medal in Olympic cross-country skiing, winning silver in the 50km event at the 1976 Innsbruck Olympics.

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo

A Norwegian cross-country skier who won the gold medal in the men's sprint classic event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

Oskar Opstad Vike

A Norwegian cross-country skier who won the bronze medal in the men's sprint classic event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

Patrick Weaver

The head coach of the Catamounts Nordic team, who was Ogden's former coach.

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What they’re saying

“It's an unbelievable dream come true.”

— Ben Ogden

“Ben and Koch live quite close to each other and Ben idolized Bill growing up.”

— Patrick Weaver, Catamounts Nordic head coach (Burlington Free Press)

What’s next

Ogden's silver medal performance is expected to inspire more American athletes to take up cross-country skiing and could lead to increased funding and support for the sport in the United States.

The takeaway

Ogden's breakthrough medal marks a historic moment for American cross-country skiing, ending a 50-year drought and showing that the US can compete with the Nordic skiing powerhouses of Europe. His success could pave the way for a new generation of American cross-country skiers to find success on the world stage.