American cross-country skier Ben Ogden made history at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics by winning a silver medal in the men’s sprint classic, ending a 50-year Olympic medal drought for US men in the sport.
The gold medal went to Norway’s star Johannes Hosflot Klaebo, who claimed his second gold of the tournament, while fellow Norwegian Oskar Opstad Vike took bronze.
The last time an American medaled in men’s cross-country skiing was in 1976, when Bill Koch also secured a silver medal.
Ben Ogden, 25, has been a member of the US Cross Country Ski Team since 2019. He first made headlines in 2018 at the FIS Junior World Ski Championship in Goms, Switzerland, where he and his teammates won a silver in the junior men’s relay - the first-ever medal for US men at a World Juniors Championship event.
Skiing runs in the Ogden family. His sister Katharine is also a professional skier, and both siblings were taught by their father.
A native of Vermont, Ben Ogden has quickly risen through the ranks of international cross-country skiing. He was the fastest skier under 23 during the 2022–23 season and achieved his first World Cup podium in 2023.
Tuesday’s silver medal represents the pinnacle of his career so far and marks a historic breakthrough for US men’s cross-country skiing, a feat not achieved in several decades.
