Ben Ogden: The Trailblazer Who Secured Silver in Cross-Country Skiing
Ben Ogden etched his name in Olympic history with a remarkable performance, securing the United States' second silver medal in cross-country skiing during the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“It’s a dream come true,” Ogden, 25, expressed in a post-race interview, reflecting on his achievement. “Some days it just works, and today was one of those days.”
His medal came in the men’s sprint classic event on February 10, 2026, where he clocked an impressive time of three minutes and 40 seconds.
“It’s an unbelievable dream come true. Everybody who races dreams of being on an Olympic podium,” he elaborated after crossing the finish line. “It’s the ultimate goal, and I feel like this last year I’ve dared to set my expectations on an Olympic podium.”
Before Ogden's historic win, the U.S. faced a 50-year drought in cross-country skiing medals. The first medal for Team USA was earned by Bill Koch at the 1976 Olympics, where he also took home silver.
Ogden's journey began in the Bill Koch Youth Ski League, where he had the opportunity to ski alongside Koch himself before rising to Olympic fame.
“We want to be someone that people are looking out for,” Ogden remarked in an interview with The Atlantic in January 2025, discussing the aspirations of the men’s cross-country skiing team. “We do that for other people. Right now that’s becoming us.”
Norwegian Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo claimed gold in the same event, finishing just one second ahead of Ogden. In a separate interview, Ogden described racing against Klaebo as a “dream.”
“When you know you have to face Johannes in every race, you have to bring the best version of yourself,” he stated. “He wins a lot of races, but it doesn’t mean one of us can’t give him a run for his money. Today I did my best — he was better. Maybe next time.”
Ogden hails from Landgrove, Vermont, and attended the University of Vermont, where he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2022. He also achieved two NCAA championships during his collegiate career.
In an interview with The Guardian, Ogden shared his excitement about having his hometown supporters present in Milan for his Olympic run. “There’s all kinds of people here from Vermont,” he noted. “My mom is here. A bunch of people from my hometown are here. If I wasn’t doing this I’d be over there celebrating with them. I’m just excited I was able to put on a good show with so many Vermonters here and watching back home.”
Ogden identifies as a professional athlete. “I’m just like, ‘I’m a skier, I’m a professional skier,’ straight up,” he told The Atlantic in January 2025. “I’m a lot more proud.”
Since joining Team USA in 2019, Ogden has made significant strides in his career.
Apart from his skiing prowess, Ogden has taken up knitting as a relaxing hobby. “It’s a great way to relax,” he mentioned, adding that after such an exhilarating day, his knitting needles would be waiting for him.
