U.S. Takes Silver in men's team sprint olympics as Ogden and Schumacher Finish Close Behind Norway
TESERO, Italy — Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET) — Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher captured the silver medal in the men's team sprint olympics, delivering Team USA its third medal in cross-country skiing at these Games. The American duo crossed the line in 18: 30. 35, just under two seconds behind Norway's winning pair.
Race recap: tight finish, tactical sprinting
The final unfolded as a high-speed chess match across a frozen loop in Tesero. Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo and Einar Hedegart pushed the pace through the closing laps, setting up a decisive final exchange. Ogden and Schumacher closed hard in the home straight but could not quite overtake the Scandinavian pair, finishing narrowly behind the leaders.
Italy’s Elia Barp and Federico Pellegrino completed the podium with bronze, rounding out a race that showcased both veteran poise and youthful energy. Ogden’s split efforts and Schumacher’s powerful transitions were key components of the American surge, but Norway’s seamless exchanges and Klaebo’s finishing kick proved the difference.
What the result means for Team USA
The silver is a milestone for the U. S. cross-country program. It marks Ogden’s second medal of the Games — he also took silver in the classical sprint earlier — while Schumacher celebrated his first Olympic medal after strong performances on the junior circuit in recent years. The two athletes combined youthful confidence with tactical discipline to elevate the American presence on the podium.
Team USA now has three medals in cross-country skiing at these Olympics, the most in the sport in the nation's Winter Games history. There is still potential for a fourth: Jessie Diggins and Julia Kern are slated to compete in the women's team sprint, and Diggins already added a bronze in the 10-kilometer freestyle to the American medal tally. The momentum from the men's result could provide a boost to the women’s pairing as they prepare to race.
Norwegian dominance continues, Italy rounds out podium
The result reinforced Norway’s long-running strength in the team sprint. The nation has claimed gold in the event at the last two Olympic Games and previously in Vancouver 2010, and this latest victory continues that tradition. Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo remains a central figure in Norway’s dominance; his haul at these Games added to an already storied career, with multiple gold medals and a growing overall medal count.
Italy's podium finish was a reminder that the margins are thin in sprint-format races. Elia Barp and Federico Pellegrino executed a measured strategy that paid dividends in the closing stages, ensuring a national celebration on the home continent.
As the cross-country program moves forward in these Olympics, national teams will analyze exchange efficiency, lap pacing, and ski selection — all factors that decided placements in Tesero. For the U. S., the silver is both reward and proof of progress: an indication that the program can contend with the traditional powerhouses when form, tactics and teamwork align.
With the women’s team sprint still to come and individual events remaining on the schedule, the cross-country competitions here remain wide open. For now, Ogden and Schumacher’s performance will be remembered as a breakthrough moment for American sprint skiing on the Olympic stage.
