[OLYMPICS] How Ben Ogden Became the 2nd American Man Ever to Medal in Cross-Country Skiing - SnowBrains

"Ben Ogden made history by becoming only the second American man ever to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing when he took silver in the Sprint Classic on Tuesday, February 10. It has taken 50 years and five days for America to claim another Olympic cross-country medal. Coincidentally, Bill Cook Ogden grew up in the same area in Vermont as Bill Cook, who won a silver medal in the 50k at the 1976 Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria."

"Sprint races go through several rounds of qualifiers. Before battling it out in the finals, skiers have to bring consistent speed and strength through several qualifying rounds, with only the top two skiers automatically qualifying, plus the next two fastest times of the round. Ogden had finished the semifinals in third place and had to wait for the second semifinal to wrap up before it was clear he was in the final-his time had made the cut."

Ben Ogden won the Olympic silver medal in the Sprint Classic, becoming only the second American man to win an Olympic cross-country skiing medal and ending a 50-year, five-day drought. Ogden grew up in the same area of Vermont as Bill Cook, who won silver in the 50k at the 1976 Innsbruck Games. Sprint events require multiple qualifying rounds with only the top two in each heat and the next two fastest advancing. Ogden surged on the largest climb in the quarterfinal to open a sizeable lead and held it to the line. In the semifinal he raced alongside Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, lost contact on the downhill, and finished third, advancing to the final on time after a photo finish.

Read at SnowBrains