Ben Ogden of the United States won silver in the men's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, ending a 50-year drought for American men in cross-country skiing. The 25-year-old Vermont native finished just 0.87 seconds behind gold medalist Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway. Ogden celebrated with a backflip off the podium, fulfilling a longtime personal tradition.
The race took place on February 10, 2026, at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme, Italy. Ogden crossed the finish line in 3:40.61, securing the second-ever Olympic medal for a U.S. man in the discipline. The last such achievement came in 1976, when Bill Koch earned silver in the 30-kilometer event at the Innsbruck Games. Ogden, who grew up near Koch in southern Vermont and trained at his academy, described the moment as "an unbelievable dream come true." He noted that everyone in the sport dreams of an Olympic podium, adding, "I’ve dared to set my expectations on an Olympic podium."
Klaebo, a seven-time Olympic gold medalist, won in 3:39.74, pulling ahead on the final uphill section. "It was amazing," Klaebo said. "My shape is good and I was a little bit more relaxed before this race." Oskar Opstad Vike of Norway took bronze in 3:46.55. Ogden praised the Norwegian's dominance but expressed optimism: "He wins a lot of races... but maybe next time I’ll get on top."
After the medal ceremony, Ogden performed a backflip off the podium, losing his hat in the process. "I used to do the backflip off podiums in high school," he explained. "If I ever get on an Olympic podium I’ll do it." His mother, Andrea, watched from the stands, while Ogden reflected on his father, who died three years ago: "I miss him every single day... he knew I was capable of this long before I ever did."
Ogden's performance highlights a rising U.S. men's team, with J.C. Schoonmaker finishing eighth and Gus Schumacher 31st. He hopes it inspires growth in the sport, especially with the World Cup finale set for Lake Placid, New York. Fans in Vermont gathered at 5 a.m. to watch, celebrating the breakthrough.
