Vermont Sports

John Caldwell, father of U.S. cross-country skiing, dies at 97

February 27, 2026 Reported by AI Image generated by AI

John Caldwell, widely regarded as the father of American cross-country skiing, died on February 27, 2026, at the age of 97. A 1952 Olympian, five-time U.S. Olympic coach, author of the sport's foundational guidebook, and co-founder of the New England Nordic Ski Association, he transformed Nordic skiing in the U.S. through coaching, innovation, and mentoring generations of athletes.