VAL DI FIEMME, Italy - Vermont cross-country ski racer Ben Ogden pulled off a feat today at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme, Italy, that no men's U.S. skier has accomplished since 1976 — ascending a podium at a Winter Olympics.
Ogden, 25, won silver, finishing behind Johannes Klaebo of Norway. Oskar Vike of Norway finished in third place, claiming bronze.
Today's race was a sprint in the classic style, requiring racers to qualify and then advance through quarter-finals and semi-finals before the final heat of six skiers in which medals are decided. Ogden qualified in second place and looked strong in the heats. He finished well behind Klaebo, the winningest cross country skier ever, but well ahead of Vike.
The last U.S. men's ski racer to medal in cross-country was Ogden's fellow Vermonter Bill Koch, who took silver at the Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria.
The U.S. Ski team quickly celebrated Ogden's powerful showing, posting on X that he climbed to "SECOND in the world to become the first American man to win an Olympic medal since Bill Koch in 1976!!"
This is Ogden's third Olympic games.
BEN OGDEN SILVER!!! ✅🥈
— U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team (@usskiteam) February 10, 2026
SECOND in the world to become the first American man to win an Olympic medal since Bill Koch in 1976!! 🇺🇸📣 pic.twitter.com/wCwKUJoSBw
The top U.S. cross-country ski racer on the women's side, Jessie Diggins, failed to advance in classic sprint races Tuesday. Julia Kern reached the finals and finished in sixth place.
- This story is developing and will be updated.
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